European Golden League-2023. Group stage. Group B

3rd round Beveren, Belgium (Topsporthal)

June 3 (Saturday)

Belgium - Ukraine - 0:3 (21:25, 21:25, 23:25)

The starting line-up of the national team of Ukraine: Tupchii (scored 15 points), Shchytkov (2), Semeniuk (8), Teromenko (7), Kovalov (8), Plotnytskyi (16), Kanaiev (l), Boiko (l). Substitute: Shchurov (0 points).

As expected, the start of the match was equal. Firstly, the Belgian national team lost the previous match, and secondly, they were playing at home court. Therefore, the motivation and mood of our opponents were at the highest level (18:18). Towards the end of the first set, the Belgians made two aces (18:20). The coach of the Ukrainians had to take a time-out, which worked exactly how was planned (20:20). With the score 21:21, the captain of the national team of Ukraine, Oleh Plotnytskyi entered the went to perform serve. The Belgians could not cope with it - 25:21 and 1-0 in favor of Ukraine.

In the second set, our opponent tried to resist, but the Ukrainians were fantastic on the serve. Risky and powerful serves were justified almost 100% (22:15). In the end, the representatives of Belgium became a little more active in the defense and in the attack and were able to get a little closer to the score. But the Latvian coach's perfectly taken time-out stopped the opponent's "offense" - 25:21 and 2-0.

In the third set, the home team still hoped to save this match (4:6). But middle blocker Yurii Semeniuk decided that it was not worth staying in Beverin for more than three sets: first he beat his opponent on the net, and then earned two points on serve (7:6). Then Vasyl Tupchii and the company worked like a clock (14:9 – 21:16). And again the end of the set, and again the opponent "woke up" and began to press harder (21:21). However, their own mistakes and the concentration of the "blue-yellows" did not allow the audience to see at least one more set - 25:23 and 3-0 in the result.

For Ukrainians, this is the third victory in a row. Earlier, the "Cossacks" defeated North Macedonia (3:0) and Croatia (3:0). Our team continues to lead the standings of group B, having the maximum number of points - 9.

On June 11 at 21:00 Kyiv time, our national team will play against Croatia. The match will take place in the Croatian city of Zadar at the "Dvorana Krešimira Ćosića" arena.

Watch the online broadcast of the match on the YouTube channel DIVISPORT.