MATCH INFO

Tokyo, Japan, December 2, 2011 - Serbia, despite their 2-6 record before a 2011 FIVB Men's World Cup fourth-round match against Egypt, were riding a high after defeating top-ranked Brazil in their last match to end the third round. They would take another win against a spirited Egyptian team at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Friday with a 3-1 win (25-20, 19-25, 25-22, 28-26).

Serbia were led by their captain Ivan Miljkovic, who contributed 18 points in the match. He was supported by the high-flying Milos Nikic with 16 points. Leading Egypt in scoring was their lethal lefty Ahmed Abdelhay, who led all scorers with 25 points, including three blocks.

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The teams exchanged points to start the first set until a pair of Abdelhay errors let Serbia jump out 8-5 on a hard spike from Miljkovic. Abdelhay would attack well for the rest of the set (he had seven points in the frame), but Miljkovic countered with another spike putting his side up 16-12. Stankovic finished the set 25-20 with a hard spike, a set that Serbia controlled well despite the relatively close score.

Egypt was more competitive in the second set, going up three points early on an ace by Abdelhay. Mohamed Badawy (aka Moneim) helped them keep that cushion with a great spike off a would-be Serbian block and an ace on the next point to make it 11-8. Uros Kovacevic helped bring his team back showing wonderful touch on a tip to come within one at 16-15. But Egypt took eight of the last 11 points in the set, including a highlight reel diving dig by the captain Ashraf Abouelhassan (perhaps personifying Egypt’s spirit in the match), which led to an Ahmed spike. That run would clinch the second for Egypt, 25-19, making it one set a piece.

Dragan Stankovic and Marko Podrascanin posted their third and fourth blocks to give their side and edge to start the third, and Nikic made a clever tip making it 8-5 at the TTO. But Egypt hung close and would eventually tie the set at 10-10, battling hard with Moneim attacking well with three great attacks mid-set. Nikic countered with three key scores of his own, capped by a stunning block on Abdelhay to go up 19-15, but Egypt again clawed back as their captain posted a wonderful block on Uros Kovacevic to tie at 21-21. But it wasn’t enough as a well-timed Miljkovic ace helped Serbia close a tough set 25-22, to go ahead two sets to one.

Serbia’s Stankovic and Podrascanin were attacking well in the fourth, finally shaking free of Egypt after a wonderful running tip by Miljkovic to help go ahead 13-10. But as they did all match, Egypt hung around with an Abdelhay spike bringing them back within one at 21-20. Egypt showed great determination fighting off five Serbia match points late, but in the end Miljkovic and Serbia overpowered them, 28-26, taking the set and the match.