Argentina holds off Portugal for 3-2 victory in the last match of prelims – Volleyball News
Men’s national volleyball teams from Argentina and Portugal met in the last pool-play match of 2012 FIVB World League on Sunday.
Argentina played better and claimed 3-2 (25-14, 17-25, 25-21, 19-25, 15-9) victory. Arena Armeec in Sofia, Bulgaria provided the backdrop for the match. Around 400 people watched the live action of volleyball and supported their favourite teams.
Success in the last match moved Argentina to an overall record of 6-6 in the tournament. The men in “sky blue & white” shirts finished the intercontinental round of 2012 FIVB World League with a total of 19 points and claimed third position in Pool D. On
the other hand, Portugal remained winless in the tournament and finished with 0-12 record.
Three Portuguese players went into double-figure score, but still it proved to be a failing effort for them. Argentina was led by Rodrigo Quiroga, who added 17 points.
Argentina emerged as the giant winner of opening set, which continued for almost 22 minutes. Team Argentina made a good entry in the match and displayed incredible action on the net. Portuguese squad failed to put up with hard hitting of Quiroga and dropped
too many points. They scored only 14 points in first set, while Argentina went on front with set points (25-14).
Despite a good start in the match, the Argentinean team lost momentum in the next frame. Unforced errors of the team created a perfect opportunity for Portugal to tie the game score by winning second set of the match at 25-17.
The see-saw battle continued and Argentina regained better status in third set of the match. The team of Juan Manuel Barrial sent 25-21 on board and seized third-set win. Portugal did not allow Argentina to take the match so easily. The Portuguese squad
staged good fight in fourth set created the dead-lock of 2-2.
Nevertheless, Argentina settled for victory after securing 15-point golden set in the match.
Juan Manuel Barrial, Argentina coach: "We are happy with the game of our young players. It was a very important match for us, because they have no experience and we came in Europe to gain some. For the last two weeks, we played some excellent matches and
now we can return home and continue our preparation for London."
"We are happy with this victory as it was a hard one. Portugal is a very good team and we played two sets under our level, but we managed to make fewer mistakes in the fifth set,” said Argentinean captain Rodrigo Quiroga after his team’s victory in the long
tiring match.
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