European Golden League-2023. "Final Four". Final
June 25, Sunday
Turkey - Ukraine - 3:2 (14:25, 25:22, 26:24, 22:25, 15:6)
The starting line-up of the National team of Ukraine: Tupchii (scored 13 points), Shchytkov (1), Semeniuk (10), Teromenko (10), Kovalov (17), Plotnytskyi (20), Kanaiev (l), Boiko (l). Substitutes: Poluian (0), Kisiliuk (1), Shchurov (0), Synytsia (0).
On June 25, the final match of the men's draw of the European Golden League 2023 took place in the Croatian city of Zadar.
The national teams of Ukraine and Turkey met in it. The match was fundamental because it was the Turkish volleyball players who Ukrainians lost to in the European League finals in 2021 (1:3).
Uģis Krastiņš's wards spent the first set, as they say, in one breath: the game went exclusively according to the "blue-yellows" scenario. It was clear that the Ukrainians worked on their mistakes - they started to make fewer mistakes on serves and in addition made 3 aces. The starting set ended with a crushing score - 25:14.
The second set was tense, but the Ukrainians had a good advantage (14:11). Until that moment, Marko Matich went to serve. He created a lot of reception problems for Ukrainians. The opponent was able to score 6 points in a row (14:17) and seize the initiative in this episode. In the end, it was the Turkish players who scored the required 25 points first - 22:25.
Then an equal game began: the teams exchanged successful attacks. However, the "blue-yellows" were able to earn a breakpoint (11:9). The set was quite intense, emotional, and full of controversial moments. Everything was decided in the end: the set went to the score "more or less" and here Alberto Giuliani's players acted more cold-bloodedly - 24:26.
Next was the fourth set. It was very important for both national teams: the Turks could win the championship, and the Ukrainians had the last chance to save this match. Uģis Krastiņš decided to change the setter - Yurii Synytsia appeared on the court. An even fight continued (9:9). But the setter Synytsia brought the necessary emotions to the court: the "blue-yellow" team gained the much-needed advantage (14:10) with crazy courage and kept it until the end of the set, winning it - 25:22 and moving the game to a tiebreak.
The decisive fifth set, unfortunately, was a failure for the "blue and yellows": 6 mistakes on the serve by the Ukrainians, 2 aces by the Turks, and 71% of their attacks. All that reflected the final score, which was not in our favor - 6:15 and 2-3 in the end.
The men's national team of Ukraine became the silver medalist of the European Golden League 2023.
We would like to remind you that after reaching the finals, the national volleyball team of Ukraine received an invitation to play in the Challenger Cup, the winner of which will receive the right to play in the Nations League 2024. This tournament will be held at the end of July.
