Champions League Men | 5 Sep 2014

Niederosterreich makes Chartres crash

Four out of five tonight`s Round 1 games of 2014/15 Men`s European Champions League belonged to the host teams: Borussia, Saarbrucken, Werder, and Hennebont. The honor of the guests Weinviertel Niederosterreich saved in superb style… What Werner SCHLAGER

What Werner SCHLAGER would say on that: Chartres ASTT – Weinviertel Niederosterreich 0:3 (1:9)? The 2008 Men`s ECL champion (with great SCHLAGER as leading player at that time) showed one of its best performances in this competition for years, especially having in mind that it happened at home of 2013 MECL finalist (Chartres lost 2013 MECL final from Orenburg for just four points in total).

Few seasons ago SCHLAGER finished his long and prominent career, from this summer Niederosterreich can`t count on CHEN Weixing, but the team reacted perfectly in France.

Stefan FEGERL announced the big upset beating Singaporean GAO Ning in straight games. Newcomer of Austrian team, HOU Yingchao followed his younger team-mate in same style, defeating Robert GARDOS. Finally, Daniel HABESOHN overcame Par GERELL in four sets.

Chartres played in its strongest possible line-up, which dominated in France and played one of important roles in last two MECL seasons (last year they were unbeatable in group stage, but after that were disqualified due to regulation of MECL – It is not allowed to MECL players to participate in Chinese Super League and GAO Ning did it)

After disappointing 2013/14 MECL season, Borussia Dusseldorf made a super fast start by beating Bogoria 3:0 (9:0). Timo BOLL opened game against Daniel GORAK and after that two Borussia`s newcomers showed that club`s management did right decision signing them this summer. Patrick FRANZISKA overcame Korean OH Sang Eun, who beat BOLL in group stage two years ago. Greek Panagiotis GIONIS, the individual bronze medalist from the 2013 European Championship, was too strong for Pawel FERTIKOVSKI. In other Group D meeting, Hennebont beat new Austrian champion Walter Wels 3:0.

Bastian STEGER showed on his first step in green jersey that is the good replacement for CHUANG Chih Yuan. German took two points for Werder Bremen who beat Eslov AI 3:1 in Round 1 of Group B. Third win came from Constantin CIOTI, whilst XU Hui managed to level after two games, defeating Adrian CRISAN in straight games.

Saarbrucken also celebrates its newcomer after the 3:1 victory against STEN Marketing Ostrov. Portuguese Tiago APOLONIA, former Ochsenhausen`s player, won twice tonight. First he beat Robert SVENSSON in straight sets, and in last game secured the win for German side, when he overcame Tomas TREGLER.

GROUP B, Round 1: Chartres ASTT – Weinviertel Niederosterreich 0:3
GAO Ning – Stefan FEGERL 0:3 (7:11, 9:11, 3:11)
Robert GARDOS – HOU Yingchao 0:3 (7:11, 5:11, 6:11)
Par GERELL – Daniel HABESOHN 1:3 (5:11, 11:5, 4:11, 4:11)

GROUP B, Round 1: Werder Bremen – Eslov AI 3:1
Bastian STEGER – Robert SVENSSON 3:0 (11:9, 11:7, 11:4)
Adrian CRISAN – XU Hui 0:3 (2:11, 9:11, 10:12)
Constantin CIOTI – Mattias OVERSJO 3:2 (11:6, 13:15, 11:8, 15:17, 12:10)
Bastian STEGER – XU Hui 3:0 (11:7, 13:11, 11:8)

GROUP C, Round 1: 1 FC Saarbrucken – STEN Marketing HB Ostrov 3:1
Tiago APOLONIA – Petr KORBEL 3:0 (11:3, 11:6, 11:8)
Adrien MATTENET – Tomas TREGLER 3:1 (11:9, 11:6, 4:11, 11:5)
Bojan TOKIC – Josef SIMONCIK 1:3 (5:11, 11:13, 11:6, 7:11)
Tiago APOLONIA – Tomas TREGLER 3:1 (11:6, 9:11, 11:5, 11:8)

GROUP D, Round 1: Borussia Dusseldorf – Bogoria Grodzisk 3:0
Timo BOLL – Daniel GORAK 3:0 (11:7, 11:3, 11:9)
Patrick FRANZISKA – OH Sang Eun 3:0 (11:8, 11:8, 12:10)
Panagiotis GIONIS – Pawel FERTIKOWSKI 3:0 (11:8, 11:6, 11:4)

GROUP D, Round 1: GV Hennebont – SPG Walter Wels 3:0
CHEN Chien-An – Dominique PLATTNER 3:0 (11:6, 11:5, 11:8)
Kalinikos KREANGA – Lehel DEMETER 3:2 (7:11, 11:8, 9:11, 11:7, 11:8)
Quentin ROBINOT – Zolt PETE 3:1 (11:3, 9:11, 11:9, 11:4)

Alex MILETIC, EWT, Alex MILETIC, EWT