2nd stage of Champions League qualification 2024 (men)
Group 6. 3rd round. November 12
Galati, Romania
"Neftechimic" — VC "Prometey" 1-3 (20:25, 17:25, 25:20, 15:25)
The current champion of Ukraine VC "Prometey" defeated the Bulgarian "Neftechimic" in their final match of the 2nd stage of the qualification of the Champions League 2024. This success helped the "red and whites" to take third place in group 6. They will now play in the CEV Cup, where Andrii Levchenko's wards will play against the Dutch team "Lykurgus" (Groningen) in the 1/16 final stage.
The beginning of the match was marked by an equal and uncompromising struggle (7:7). Teams were prevented from breaking away from the score due to their own mistakes, and traditionally for men's volleyball, most of them occurred when the ball was put into play. However, at the equator of the party, the captain of "Prometey" Vitalii Shchytkov issued a stable series of serves, which helped the "red and whites" to provide a comfortable handicap (8:12). By the end of this set, the Bulgarians were forced to play the role of the catch-ups - 20:25.
In the next set, the initiative was completely owned by the Ukrainians. Dmytro Teromenko and company were unsurpassed both in attack and on the block. In addition, the setter of our club once again distinguished himself with a tight and accurate pass. This explains his incredible starting rush (1:12). On the other side of the net, the volleyball players of "Neftechimic" did not manage the reception at all, and without a high-quality reception, you will not achieve special success in the attack. In the end, the players of both teams were already thinking about the third set — 17:25.
Atanas Petrov's wards made their conclusions in the break between sets. Intrigue returned, in particular, due to some controversial episodes, after which points were given to our rivals (11:10). Of course, this had a significant impact on the psychological state of Prometey players. Because of this, they lost self-confidence - 25:20.
Fortunately, not for long! The "red and whites" managed to get together and felt their winning rhythm of the meeting (2:6). Two consecutive time-outs from the coaching staff of the Bulgarian club did not help. Very soon, Dmytro Shapoval's effective shot put an end to the match - 15:25.
Starting line-up of VC "Prometey": Shapoval (22), Stankovic (7), Yereshchenko (11), Hladenko (6), Teromenko (10), Shchytkov (c) (6), Boiko (l), Brova (l). Substitutes: Kryvobok (3), Veletskyi (1).
