Italy beat Spain 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-15) - duration 1:10
27-Jul, start time: 12:00, end time: 13:10 - Attendance: 3,500 Italy crushes Spain 3-0
Italy delivered a 3-0 lesson to Spain, the team that had been until now undefeated in the 2002 World League Intercontinental Rounds, going into the match focussed on victory and wary of their rival's usual explosive starts to their matches. The Italian pressure right from the first whistle provided few options for Spain's usually effective attacking style. With the Italian defensive system at its peak, the visitors took the lead from the opening stages of the first set and kept up the pressure throughout the match. Spain tried to get back into the first set when they were down 19-23 and could see it slipping from their grasp. Italy responded with two razor sharp attacks to close the set and go one up. Spain tried to turn the match in their favor in the opening part of the second set, using the power of Guillermo Falasca's serves and strong attacks by Enrique De la Fuente but Italy gave little room for surprise. The visiting team built an extraordinary defensive barrier and all offensive actions from the local team ended with a block. To complete the effective playing by Italians, Alessandro Fei put a powerful finish to the counterattacks, leaving Spain little room to move. Italy had a comfortable win 25-18 win in the second set, to seemingly break the spirit of the Spaniards who went lacklustre into the final set. Having now unsettled the Spanish side, Italy took firm control of the third set and charged through to wrap up with a 10-point lead in the final set. /mh
