Kyoto, Japan, May 16, 2025 – Reigning Asian Club champions Foolad Sirjan Iranian booked their spot in the semifinals of the inaugural AVC Men’s Champions League after rallying from a set down to defeat Shanghai Bright Volleyball Club of China 3-1 (24-26, 25-21, 28-26, 25-23) on Friday at Shimadzu Arena.
Esfandiar Aminhossein scored a match-high 24 points from 19 attacks, 2 blocks and 3 aces for Foolad Sirjan Iranian, while Hajipour Moghadam Faroji Ali added 20 points including 18 attacks. Wu Pengzhi chipped in 22 points including 20 attacks on the Shanghai Bright’s losing effort.
“It was a tough and closely contested match,” said 23-year-old Hajipour Moghadam Faroji, MVP of the 2025 Iran Volleyball Super League. “We made a number of errors in transition and sideouts, but fortunately, we managed to pull through. If we face Osaka Bluteon in the semifinals, I expect another challenging match. Still, we hope to improve and perform better tomorrow.”
Foolad Sirjan Iranian, champions of the 2024 Asian Men’s Club Championship and three-time national titleholders in Iran, featured a formidable lineup led by France’s two-time Olympic MVP Earvin Ngapeth. The team made a strong offensive start, driven by the explosive performance of Hajipour, whose relentless attacks from the flanks set the tone early.
Shanghai Bright, two-time Chinese Super League champions, rested one of their key players, Polish outside hitter Michał Kubiak, throughout the whole match. However, Wu Pengzhi stepped up with powerful performances from both the front and back rows. After saving a set point, Shanghai capitalized on Iranian errors to edge the first set, sealing it with a well-timed block against Ngapeth.
Foolad Sirjan responded with renewed intensity in the second set. Hajipour continued to pierce through the Chinese defense with decisive spikes, while Ngapeth contributed crucial service pressure. Despite Shanghai’s efforts to tighten their defense and force Iranian errors, Foolad maintained composure to level the match.
The third set saw Shanghai surge to a commanding 24-20 lead, driven by Wu Pengzhi’s dynamic court presence and sharp hitting. Yet, Foolad Sirjan staged a dramatic comeback, showcasing grit and cohesion under pressure. Setter Ali Ramezani orchestrated a fluid offensive rhythm as the Iranians strung together a series of points to clinch the set 28-26.
The fourth set was tightly contested, with both sides exchanging blows. Tian Cong and Wu Pengzhi remained pivotal for Shanghai, delivering powerful attacks from the flanks and midcourt. However, Foolad Sirjan capitalized on Shanghai’s service errors and maintained the upper hand. With the score at 24-23, Alireza Abdolhamidi delivered the decisive spike, sealing the match for the Iranians.
With this victory, Foolad Sirjan Iranian advanced to Saturday’s semifinals, where they will face the winners of the match between Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima Qmin C VC and hosts Osaka Bluteon. Shanghai Bright, having lost the quarterfinals, are now eliminated from the tournament.
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