MATCH INFO

Tokyo, Japan, December 3, 2011 - Coming off a tough loss to the USA on Friday, Argentina ended their five-game losing streak in the 2011 FIVB Men’s World Cup on Saturday with a quick win over Egypt at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-17).

Leading Argentina in scoring was Federico Pereyra with 15 points, followed by Facundo Conte with 14 points including three blocks. For the Egyptians in a losing effort it was Abdel Latif Ahmed posting nine points, and their star southpaw Ahmed Abdelhay held to eight points by a solid Argentina defense that out-blocked Egypt 10-5.

Men’s World Cup Results/Standings, Match Info, Photos or Live Scoring.

Argentina started tentatively in the first set with a couple of serves from Luciano De Cecco going astray, but Conte got things going eventually on the defensive side, posting back-to-back blocks on an attacking Abdelhay for scores to go up 12-8. They’d ride that cushion until serves Sebastian Solé got in on the block party, posting a stuff on Moneim. Conte followed that with his third block again on Abdelhay out wide to make it 20-15. Egypt’s Ahmed Afifi (Youssef) brought a pair of impressive spikes late, but a Pablo Crer attack would clinch the frame for Argentina 25-20

Egypt was more competitive to start the second with Abdel Latif Ahmed throwing down three scores, the last to equalize at 7-7. But strong attacking by Pereyra and Rodrigo Quiroga helped Agentina ahead 16-12 by the second TTO. But Egypt stuck tight taking seven of the next 11 points to come within one at 20-19, including a wonderful block by Mohamed Badawy (aka Moneim), his second of the match, on an attacking Conte. From there, Quiroga dropped a pair of spikes to jump back ahead, and Pereyra delivered two consecutive aces to close 25-21, two sets to zero.

Egypt took a slight lead in the fourth with a clever dump by their captain Ashraf Abouelhassan to go up 6-5. But that seemed to spark an Argentina landslide as they’d score 10 of the next 11 to make it 15-7, including a hard Crer spike that hit Wael Alaydy square in the chest before he could respond, showing just how quick Argentina can be. Abdelhay got his serve rolling late for Egypt sending a hard ace to make it 19-15, but it was too little too late as Pereyra scored his 15th point to close 25-17, three sets to zero.