Argentina beat Poland 3-0 (25-22, 36-34, 25-19) - duration 1:33
06-Jul, start time: 20:15 - Attendance: 10,200 Argentina humbles Poland 3-0
Argentina humbled visiting Poland 3-0 in their first match of the World League Intercontinental Round 2, with big names Marcos Milinkovic and Giani Gaston in devastating form, both hammering home 20 points each. Argentina was well concentrated and combined well to used Hugo Conte, Elgueta, Spajic and Javier Weber effectively, proving that they are not dependent on the big names to take important matches. Milinkovic set the pace for the first set with a confidence boosting nine attacks and eight counter-attacks that pushed the side to 25-22 in just 30 minutes. Argentina ran up a handy 16-11 lead in the second, but then let their concentration slip, allowing Poland to scramble back to level at 23-23. Poland then failed to convert six set balls, only to suffer the agony of a failed serve by Prygel. A great hit by Giani closed the set at 36-34. Argentina's concentration flagged in the opening stage of the third set and Poland advance to a three-point lead before Argentine Coach Carlos Getzelevich called a time out and demanded they keep their wits about them. They returned to the court and closed the set 25-19. The 10,200 fans that packed the stadium in San Juan, one of the host cities for the 2002 World Championship in October, responded with enthusiasm to some great action by Hugo Conte and raised expectations concerning the return meet on Sunday night. /mh
