Iran came from behind to defeat Japan 3-2 (22-25, 23-25, 25-18, 25-21, 15-12) in an epic encounter to end the second round of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Cup Japan 2015 in Osaka on Friday.
“In the first two sets we played good volleyball but we made some easy mistakes. We served good but we could not stop ball in the middle,” Iran coach Slobodan Kovac said in the post-match news conference.
“It was tough to play Japan after losing four matches in a row. Shahram Mahmoudi came in and played opposite for us because Amir Ghafour had a shoulder injury. We were a different team with Mahmoudi on the court," Kovac added.
Iran will play Australia on September 21.