In the crucial phase of the 2009 European League in Portimão (POR), Germany and 2007 European champions Spain will meet in tomorrow Sunday’s European League final. Whilst Spain struggled against Slovakia in the first set (12-25) before winning 3:1, Portugal couldn’t take advantage of the home court, losing against Germany in straight sets.
The duel between host Portugal and Germany started tightly with both teams hitting top gear early on and scoring some fine winners. The second technical timeout came with the hosts in front 16-14 while Germany bounced back strongly on the back of improved blocking and cover defence, 23-23. German super star Jochen Schöps brought up a first set point for Germany with a burning back row winner, and when Max Günthör blocked for 26-24 some moments later, the guests from Germany led 1:0.
The match remained a tight affair and spikers from both sides continued smashing home some awe-inspiring winners. Portugal reached the first technical timeout in the second set 8-7 ahead after a clever Flavio Cruz attack, but the Germans used a 9-4 run to take a 16-11 lead. The German pressure was now very intense with Portugal faltering on the net. A hammer from middle blocker Georg Wiebel and a Günthör block kill kept the German team four points ahead at 21-17. When Flavio sent his serve wide, Germany won the second set 25-20.
Sebastian Schwarz, Robert Kromm and Schöps kept the Germans on course in the third set, and the team of head coach Raul Lozano led the first technical timeout 8-6. But the Portuguese spikers came back, with Valdir and Flavio working effectively once more, 20-21. But it was the Germans, though, who kept the upper hand and a spike by György Grozer brought up match point at 24-22. Schwarz finally closed it out for the Germans with a smart block out on the left.
Juan Diaz, head coach of Portugal commented: "We started the match very stable. Unfortunately, we missed some serves at the end of the first set. Tomorrow there's another day, we'll do our best to claim the bronze medal against Slovakia."
Raul Lozano, German head coach said: "We started poorly, but grew during the match. I think my players deserve this victory. Now we turn the page and concentrate for tomorrow's game against Spain."
European champion Spain clawed back from one set down to beat Slovakia 3:1 (12-25, 27-25, 30-28, 25-19) in today’s first semi-final of the Men’s European Final Four in Portimão, Portugal.
2007 edition’s winner Slovakia were into the game quickly and after an ace by Martin Nemec, the Slovakians came into the first technical timeout ahead 8-4. Spain spiker Iban Pérez popped up on the right to strike home, but when Marlon Palharini sent it wide, Spanish head coach legend Julio Velasco tried to reorganize the game by calling his first timeout. However, the Slovakian boys continued their top form with Spain stumbling in reception, 16-6 at the second technical timeout. Spain had a lot of trouble in finding their range in this first set, while Slovakia showed great battling quality in their defense, at the net and on the backcourt. After 21 minutes, Slovakia closed it out 25-12 (!) after another Spanish serve fault.
Spain was still having difficulty finding their form as they dropped some points early in the second set because of poor attacking. The spotlight was on Spanish setter Miguel Angel Falasca who tried to find better solutions to destroy the two-strong and even three-strong blocking system of Slovakia to keep the points coming for Spain, who reached the first technical timeout 8-6 ahead. The teams then went head to head through to 22-22, before Falasca blocked for a first Spanish set point, 24-22. However, a Jozef Piovarci quick attack and a Nemec ace leveled again, 24-24. Spanish middle blocker Julian Garcia-Torres finished it two rallies later with a well-timed block kill on the right.
Having increased their reception from 46% in the first set to 73% in the second, 2007 European champions Spain tried to boost their game, but Slovakian superstar Nemec moved his team four points ahead at the first technical timeout in set No. 3. Slovakia had the momentum and scored three out of the next four points to lead 11-5, forcing Spain off for their second timeout. The Spaniards sought to take advantage of small Slovakian setter Michal Masny at the net, but outstanding Slovakian Libero Martin Pipa kept his team on pace in defense. But when the Spaniards bounced back bravely from 17-23 to 23-23, 24-24 and 28-28, the score turned around in Spain’s favor. With Slovakian Nemec’s spike into the net and Spoko far too long, the Spaniards ended it 30-28 for 2-1 set lead.
The Velasco team kept the upper hand in the fourth set when the Spaniards led 16-13 at the second technical timeout. Young Sergio Noda brought up match point with a well-timed shot on the base line, and when Nemec sent his serve into the net, 2007 European champions Spain secured their spot in Sunday’s final of the 2009 Men’s European League. Best scorers of the match were Martin Nemec (26 points) as well as Iban Perez (16).
“My players have to think about the end of the third set”, said Slovakian head coach Emanuele Zanini. “A six-point lead was not enough to close out the third set. Spain took advantage of their experience, congratulations.”
Julio Velasco, Spanish head coach said: “We didn’t manage to control Martin Nemec in the first set. After some substitutions, we found our rhythm to come back strongly. I’m looking forward to play Sunday’s final here in Portimão.”
The duel between host Portugal and Germany started tightly with both teams hitting top gear early on and scoring some fine winners. The second technical timeout came with the hosts in front 16-14 while Germany bounced back strongly on the back of improved blocking and cover defence, 23-23. German super star Jochen Schöps brought up a first set point for Germany with a burning back row winner, and when Max Günthör blocked for 26-24 some moments later, the guests from Germany led 1:0.
The match remained a tight affair and spikers from both sides continued smashing home some awe-inspiring winners. Portugal reached the first technical timeout in the second set 8-7 ahead after a clever Flavio Cruz attack, but the Germans used a 9-4 run to take a 16-11 lead. The German pressure was now very intense with Portugal faltering on the net. A hammer from middle blocker Georg Wiebel and a Günthör block kill kept the German team four points ahead at 21-17. When Flavio sent his serve wide, Germany won the second set 25-20.
Sebastian Schwarz, Robert Kromm and Schöps kept the Germans on course in the third set, and the team of head coach Raul Lozano led the first technical timeout 8-6. But the Portuguese spikers came back, with Valdir and Flavio working effectively once more, 20-21. But it was the Germans, though, who kept the upper hand and a spike by György Grozer brought up match point at 24-22. Schwarz finally closed it out for the Germans with a smart block out on the left.
Juan Diaz, head coach of Portugal commented: "We started the match very stable. Unfortunately, we missed some serves at the end of the first set. Tomorrow there's another day, we'll do our best to claim the bronze medal against Slovakia."
Raul Lozano, German head coach said: "We started poorly, but grew during the match. I think my players deserve this victory. Now we turn the page and concentrate for tomorrow's game against Spain."
European champion Spain clawed back from one set down to beat Slovakia 3:1 (12-25, 27-25, 30-28, 25-19) in today’s first semi-final of the Men’s European Final Four in Portimão, Portugal.
2007 edition’s winner Slovakia were into the game quickly and after an ace by Martin Nemec, the Slovakians came into the first technical timeout ahead 8-4. Spain spiker Iban Pérez popped up on the right to strike home, but when Marlon Palharini sent it wide, Spanish head coach legend Julio Velasco tried to reorganize the game by calling his first timeout. However, the Slovakian boys continued their top form with Spain stumbling in reception, 16-6 at the second technical timeout. Spain had a lot of trouble in finding their range in this first set, while Slovakia showed great battling quality in their defense, at the net and on the backcourt. After 21 minutes, Slovakia closed it out 25-12 (!) after another Spanish serve fault.
Spain was still having difficulty finding their form as they dropped some points early in the second set because of poor attacking. The spotlight was on Spanish setter Miguel Angel Falasca who tried to find better solutions to destroy the two-strong and even three-strong blocking system of Slovakia to keep the points coming for Spain, who reached the first technical timeout 8-6 ahead. The teams then went head to head through to 22-22, before Falasca blocked for a first Spanish set point, 24-22. However, a Jozef Piovarci quick attack and a Nemec ace leveled again, 24-24. Spanish middle blocker Julian Garcia-Torres finished it two rallies later with a well-timed block kill on the right.
Having increased their reception from 46% in the first set to 73% in the second, 2007 European champions Spain tried to boost their game, but Slovakian superstar Nemec moved his team four points ahead at the first technical timeout in set No. 3. Slovakia had the momentum and scored three out of the next four points to lead 11-5, forcing Spain off for their second timeout. The Spaniards sought to take advantage of small Slovakian setter Michal Masny at the net, but outstanding Slovakian Libero Martin Pipa kept his team on pace in defense. But when the Spaniards bounced back bravely from 17-23 to 23-23, 24-24 and 28-28, the score turned around in Spain’s favor. With Slovakian Nemec’s spike into the net and Spoko far too long, the Spaniards ended it 30-28 for 2-1 set lead.
The Velasco team kept the upper hand in the fourth set when the Spaniards led 16-13 at the second technical timeout. Young Sergio Noda brought up match point with a well-timed shot on the base line, and when Nemec sent his serve into the net, 2007 European champions Spain secured their spot in Sunday’s final of the 2009 Men’s European League. Best scorers of the match were Martin Nemec (26 points) as well as Iban Perez (16).
“My players have to think about the end of the third set”, said Slovakian head coach Emanuele Zanini. “A six-point lead was not enough to close out the third set. Spain took advantage of their experience, congratulations.”
Julio Velasco, Spanish head coach said: “We didn’t manage to control Martin Nemec in the first set. After some substitutions, we found our rhythm to come back strongly. I’m looking forward to play Sunday’s final here in Portimão.”
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