Argentina rallied back from one set down to beat China 3-2, receiving their first victory in the men's volleyball World Championships in Saitama, Japan on Sunday.

China's Wang Haichuan(front) spikes the ball aganist Argentian volleyball team player during their match at the FIVB men's Volleyball World Championship in Saitama, Japan November 19, 2006.[Xinhua]

Argentina, who lost to Purto Rico and Poland in the previous matches, defeated China 22-25, 25-21, 17-25, 25-17, 17-15 in one hour and 44 minutes.

Due to a slow start and a string of unforced errors, Argentina lost the first set 25-22, but controlled the rhythm of the second set, pulling it back 25-21.

In the third set, China took the early leads 8-6 and 16-13 before presenting a world-class performance with a 9-3 run to finish the set 25-16.

Argentina, who ranked sixth in the 2002 World Championship, soon geared up in the fourth set to overwhelm China totally and forced the match into the decider with a 25-17 win.

Both sides fought fiercely and the fifth set became a tit-for-tat battlefield till 15-all before Gaston Giani scored the last two winning points for Argentina for the great comeback victory.

China will play Egypt on Tuesday, while Argentina fights against host Japan.