Sri Lanka defeated Uzbekistan 3-0 (25-23, 25-13 & 25-22) in the 2021 Asian Men’s Volleyball Championship qualifier at the Sugathadasa Stadium.
Uzbekistan went up 0-2 early in the first. Sri Lanka equalized at 3-3. Sri Lanka took a 2-point lead midway through the 1st set but Uzbekistan went point for point. Sri Lanka was leading 23-21 with momentum on their side, but the visitors made it 23-all setting up an exciting last few points.
However, Sri Lanka held their nerve to win the next two points and win the 1st set 25-23. Both teams were at the receiving end of some questionable calls from the referees.
The hosts had an easy 2nd set leading 8-3 at the end of the first technical time-out. They extended the gap to 9-points at 18-9 and stretched it further to 12-points to win the 2nd set 25-13.
Needing to win the 3rd set, Uzbekistan started off brightly going into an early 3-7 lead. Sri Lanka managed to close the gap to 2-points but once again the visitors extended it to 7-13. Sri Lanka went on a 4-0 run to close the gap to 14-16 and the momentum led to them equalizing at 20-20.
That fightback from Sri Lanka seemed to have broken the visitors as the hosts romped to a 25-22 win and qualify for the 2021 Asian Men’s Volleyball Championship in Japan.
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