Champions League Men | 26 Jan 2017
Big advantage for Pontoise
Photo: Tony BOUTIN
First quarter-final leg of 2016/17 TTCLM: G.V. Hennebont – AS Pontoise Cergy 0:3
Defending TTCLM champion AS Pontoise Cergy secured a big advantage in the first quarter-final leg, as they beat away G.V. Hennebont 3:0 in the all-French clash. The same score appeared two months ago in the national Pro A league, so it`s clear that Marcos FREITAS & Co. are very close to the semi-final stage.
Pontoise`s newcomer Mattias KARLSSON beat Englishman Liam PITCHFORD in four games of the opening set. Guest managed to win the first set by narrow margin. That provided him a lot of confidence.
Two leading players met in the second duel, as Marcos FRETIAS overcame CHEH-Chien An after full five games. That was a good sign for Pontoise.
Two team mates from youth national team of France played one against another in the third encounter. The 22-year-old Tristan FLORE prevailed against two year older Quentin ROBINOT, like in 2011 European Youth Championships gold medal clash. Beside that final, FLORE took gold in the 2012 EYCH in Schwechat.
Rematch will be held on February 10th.
TTCLM quarter-finals (1st leg)
G.V. Hennebont – AS Pontoise Cergy 0:3
Liam PITCHFORD - Mattias KARLSSON 1:3 (10:12, 11:8, 7:11, 8:11)
CHEN Chien-An - Marcos FREITAS 2:3 (11:7, 7:11, 5:11, 11:8, 8:11)
Quentin ROBINOT - Tristan FLORE 1:3 (7:11, 7:11, 11:7, 9:11)
