European Golden League-2023. Women
Hungary. Budapest. ÉRD Arena
May 28. 2nd round
Ukraine — Hungary 3-1 (25:17, 22:25, 25:15, 26:24)
The blue and yellow team repeated their previous success with Hungary in the European Golden League 2023 — 3-1 (25:17, 22:25, 25:15, 26:24). It should be noted that the second match between the teams was also held in Budapest. Therefore, the home stands pushed their favorites forward. The latter, feeling this support, took the initiative at the start — 3:5, 5:7.
Setter Daria Sharhorodska in those minutes often tried to build attacks through Anastasiia Kraiduba. However, the opposite has not yet fully entered the game, which caused errors - 7:10. Then Svitlana Dorsman led the team. Our captain had time to be everywhere: block and attack. And soon we managed to equalize the parity.
At the equator of the set, an interesting and at the same time protracted rally took place, which, thanks to successful actions on the block, ended in favor of the Ukrainians, and they finally took the lead - 12:11. This moment can be considered a turning point for the blue-yellow team, because after that Hungary was no longer in the lead in this segment - 25:17.
The beginning of the second set was equal - 4:4. Subsequently, we witnessed the messy pace of the match, due to quite a large number of video challenges. These pauses benefited our volleyball players - 10:7. The coach of the Hungarians, Alessandro Chiappini, took a time-out. After that, his wards were able to equalize the numbers on the scoreboard. Ivan Petkov responded to his opponent in the same way, but it was not possible to immediately regain the initiative. Moreover, after Andrea Pinter's ace, it was the opponents who took the lead — 15:16.
At the end of the set, the classic volleyball constant changing of the leader began - 19:18, 21:22. The last rallies kept all the spectators in suspense. Unfortunately, the expectations of Ukrainian fans regarding the winners were not fulfilled - 22:25. It's 1-1 in sets, but all the fight was ahead.
And it continued from the first rallies of the third set — 4:4. On the Svitlana Dorstman's serve the Ukrainians managed to make a spurt. Oleksandra Milenko was quite active and accurate in that successful stretch — 8:5. This sprut added confidence to Ivan Petkov's team, because in the future they felt quite comfortable. On the same calm wave, they brought the set to their victory - 25:15.
Once again, the players of Hungary tried to turn the tide of the confrontation, throwing all their forces into a comeback. Under this pressure, our athletes found themselves in the role of those who catch up - 8:10, 10:13. After a 30-second break from the Bulgarian specialist, the national team of Ukraine managed to recover thanks to the fortitude - 14:14. At the same time, the intrigue only grew with each rally — 20:21, 23:24, 24:24. Luckily, in the end, fortune smiled on blue and yellows - 26:24 and overall 3-1.
So, currently, with two victories, the national team of Ukraine is single-handedly leading Group C. Our volleyball players will play their next matches against France on June 14 and 18.
The starting line-up of the National team of Ukraine: Sharhorodska, Dorsman (c), Maievska, Milenko, Kraiduba Dymar, Niemtseva (l); Substitutes: Oliinyk, Khober, Kotar, Danchak.
