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| 2005 African GALA Championship- Morocco |
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Day
Two Morocco and Portugal set second victory Morocco Volleyball team satisfied his fans, Friday when they clinched a considerable 3-1 victory over England in day two of the second Gala Championship here in Casablanca, Morocco. Portugal defeated Senegal in straight sets in the second match. Portugal came to there match against Senegal with increased confidence after beating England in their first match. Portugal's great defence prevented Senegal from scoring on many occasions at the start of the first set. However, Senegal was able to hold Portugal to within two points in the first part of the set. A serve from Senegal's setter Travre Moussa brought them closer but Portugal dug in, stretched their lead aided by some middle attacking by Ivo Anicero and three man blocks on some of the Senegal attacks. Senegal's Diop Lamana brought the score to 19:17, Badji Jean added a point in a combination attack and a block brought the team to 22:22. Portugal had conceded enough and finally took the set 25:23. In the second set, the two teams equalised at 7:7. Fernando Ribeiro increased Portugal's score with his service and the two teams chased each other through the middle of the set. As in the first set it was Portugal that won the vital points and laid claim to the second set 25:21. Senegal began the third set well, leading by 3:6. Puga Filipe began the fight back for Portugal and they finally equalised at 13 all. At this point Portugal took a tentative control and finally won the match with a third set score of 25:20. Senegal also had a short preparation time for the Gala - "Just one week," said their coach Kane Diallo Assane. "We have difficulty in getting the team together. All our players are students and players from this tournament come from three clubs." In the second match, Morocco defeated England 3-1 (27-25, 21-25, 25-23, 25-16). Moroccan born Yassir and Mohammed Sliti were looking forward to their match with England against hosts Morocco and Yassir began the match as part of the starting six. In the first set England began to put the points on the board early in the set but it was also in this set that Morocco's Zakaria Bairi began to make a mark with his service. Morocco refused to lose touch with England and to the delight of the crowd moved into the lead at 24:23. England's Yassir Sliti evened the score with his attack through 2 but it was Morocco who stood the pressure and they took the set 27:25. After an initial sharing of points in the second set, Zakaria Bairi, took his team to 6:2 with his service. England's captain, Matt Jones, spoilt his run with his attack and then had his own serve run taking the score to 7:8. England then dominated the set although Morocco saved two set points before Yassir Sliti claimed the set for England with his attack 21-25. In the third set, England's blocking unit thought it had blocked Morocco three times in one early rally but each was picked up by Morocco's defence until England finally ground the ball in Morocco's court. At 6:8 an excellent Morocco recovery from the other side of the net raised the team's game and the two teams ran level to 20:19. Morocco broke the pattern and took the set 25:23. The fourth set was Morocco's after an initial early success by England and they claimed the match at 25:16 to the delight of their home crowd. Morocco's coach, Moustafa Anchouche, commented, "It has not been easy to pull this team together in a short time period and in this match we had both problems with our service reception and jump service.......... but I am pleased to have won the match!" News By Barbara Totterdell, Casablanca, Morocco |
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