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Iran make World League history with win over Brazil and debut semifinal spot. Florence, Italy, 18 July, 2014 - World No.12 ranked Iran beat world No.1 Brazil 3-1 (25-22, 25-19, 23-25, 28'26) in their FIVB World League match on Friday. The Iranians top the pool as a result and go through to the semifinals for the first time in their history. Brazil progress to the semifinals in second place, and Russia are eliminated.

Key points
• Iran top the group and go through to the semifinals of the World League for the first time in their history
• Iran have now got a winning record against Brazil in the World League overall. The two sides have met five times in the competition, with Iran winning three and Brazil winning two. Brazil have won the other four meetings between the two sides (two in the World Cup, two in the Grand Championships Cup)
• Russia finish third in the pool and are eliminated
• Iran broke a three match losing streak with this win
• Brazil will face the winners of the other pool - likely to be hosts Italy

Brazil had already qualified for the semifinals after winning the match against Russia 3-1, and used the match as an opportunity to give court time to some of the players who had not played much in the first game.

In the first set, Brazil got an early lead at 8-5 with Eduardo Loh Lucas spiking hard and Lucas Saatkamp hitting two aces. A few brilliant attacks by Motjaba Mirzajanpour and Ghaemi Farhad helped Iran bridge the gap and reach a narrow lead at 15-14. Brazil fought back with Eder Carbonera and Lucas, but some fantastic play by Amir Ghafour allowed Iran to secure the first set 25-22.

Both sides fought point for point in the second set, but with Seyed Mousavi and Ghafour killing effectively, Iran got 15-12 up. Good spiking by Ricardo Lucarelli and Lucas could not prevent Iran from closing the match 25-19.

Lucarelli and Carbonera's spiking put Brazil up 7-5 in set three. In spite of good play by Ghafour and Mirzajanpour for Iran, the world No.1 ranked side maintained their lead at 16-14 and eventually clinched the set 25-23.

But Iran stunned the huge crowd of Iranian supporters by completing the victory in set four. Brazil went ahead with Loh Lucas putting down good attacks, but Iran fought back via Ghafour and Mirzajanpour, tying at 14-14. Excellent spiking on both sides - by Leandro Vissotto for Brazil and Mirzajanpour for Iran in particular - kept the game tight to the end. But Iran held their nerve to get the winner, and took the set 28-26, and the match.

Amir Ghafour was the match top scorer with 23 points. Lucarelli was top Brazil scorer with 17 points. The semifinals take place on Saturday.

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