On November 2, the Ukrainian team "Epicenter-Podolyany" met the Belgian team "Menen" in the return match of the 1/32 finals of the CEV Cup.
CEV Cup 2023-2024. 1/32 of the final. Return match
November 2, Thursday
"Epicenter-Podolyany" (Horodok, Ukraine) - "Menen" (Belgium) - 3:0 (25:19, 25:14, 25:22)
Golden set - 14:16.
First match: 1:3.
Starting line-up: Finger (scored 16 points), Kisiliuk (13), Smoliar (8), Koval (8), Yorna (12), Tervaporti (5), Fomin (l), Zhukov (0). Substitutes: Sydorenko (8), Ostapenko (0), Didenko (0).
In the first match, the Podolyany lost 1:3. And now, in order to get to the 1/16 finals of the European Cup, the wards of Mauricio Paes needed to win the game with a score of 3:0 or 3:1, and then count on success in the "golden set".
"Bisons" seized the initiative from the first minutes of the match (6:2), and then only increased their advantage (10:5 - 17:10). It was noticeable that this break between games benefited the Podolyany because they looked more rested and more played - 25:19.
5:0 - the coach of the Belgians, Frank Depestel, looked very confused and conveyed his mood to the already upset players. Next was the ace of Eemi Tervaporti and the triple block of the "Bisons" (7:0). Miraculously, luckily for the Podolyany's fans, this did not happen, and they recorded another set in their account - 25:14.
The third set started with the active actions of "Menen" (2:6). They felt confident in their own actions, began to make fewer mistakes, and took advantage (9:15). It seemed that this set would end in favor of the Belgians...but the coach of the "Bisons" Mauricio Paes made a substitution - Volodymyr Sydorenko appeared on the court. With fresh strength and fighting spirit, he implemented almost all his attacks (19:19). Then the volleyball players from Horodok "were in the game" again and quickly seized the initiative (21:19) and, in the end, won this set - 25:22.
So the decisive "golden set" till 15 points was awaiting us!
The "golden set" began with an attack by the aforementioned Sydorenko and two consecutive blocks from him and his partners (3:0). A good advantage and coordinated team actions gave the result (8:4). And then there was a "comeback" from Franko Depestel's team - several blocks and successful attacks and the score was equal (12:12). At a crucial moment, the Belgians fought back from the block, and in the next episode, the Dutch "bison" legionnaire Gijs Jorna made a mistake, hitting the net - 14:16.
So, based on the results of two matches and the "golden set", "Menen" is advancing to the 1/16 finals of the CEV Cup 2024. There, the Belgians will meet with the Italian team "Milan". And "Epicenter-Podolyanyi" leaves the tournament just after "Zhytychi-Polissia".
