Champions League Men | 29 Nov 2014

POTA keeps Berlin on top

Defending WECL champion Berlin beat Linz AG Froschberg 3:2 in Round 5, after four hours exhausting battle in Austria. It was fourth mutual match between these clubs this year and all four belonged to German side (first 3:1 and three in a row 3:2). Berlin

Defending WECL champion Berlin beat Linz AG Froschberg 3:2 in Round 5, after four hours exhausting battle in Austria. It was fourth mutual match between these clubs this year and all four belonged to German side (first 3:1 and three in a row 3:2). Berlin waits the last round on the top of Group B, with 4-1 score, but Linz and Metz, who defeated tonight Postas 3:0, both have chance to reach semi-final.

LI Xiaodan brought two points for Linz, overcoming two best Berlin`s players, Georgina POTA in first and SHAN Xiaona in fourth encounter.

One of crucial moment was happened in fifth set of the second match, when LIU Jia and SHAN Xiaona met. World`s No. 12 LIU, the best ranked player in this clash, turned from 6:7 to 8:7, but SHAN controlled the finish. The 2005 individual European champion lost tonight both her games.
Petrissa SOLJA prevailed against Iveta VECANOVSKA in five games, to bring first lead to Berlin. LI provided new chance for Linz, beating SHAN in four sets. Host was in bad position in the last set (2:6) but caught up her opponent on 9:9 and won.

LIU Jia and Georgina POTA got a chance to decide the winner. They met in Round 2 in Berlin when Hungarian player was better. The same outcome was tonight, but in five games. LIU had a decent advantage in early fifth set (4:1), but guest answered by 7:1 run (8:5 lead). It turned out as crucial moment for the final score.

In other Group B match Metz defeated Postas 3:0. FU Yu and WU Jiaduo won their matches in straight games, against Krisztina AMBRUS and LI Jiao respectively. Laura GASNIER confirmed comfortable win for French playing four games against Rita KERTAI.
In Round 6 matches are: Postas – Linz, Berlin – Metz. There is a possibility to see three clubs with 4-2 score at the end, so the last round guarantees huge excitements.

WECL Round 5 – Group B

Linz AG Froschberg – TTC Berlin Eastside 2:3
LI Xiaodan – Georgina POTA 3:1 (11:9, 8:11, 11:7, 11:8)
LIU Jia – SHAN Xiaona 2:3 (9:11, 11:6, 7:11, 11:7, 9:11)
Iveta VACENOVSKA – Petrissa SOLJA 2:3 (11:9, 9:11, 13:11, 4:11, 7:11)
LI Xiaodan – SHAN Xiona 3:1 (11:7, 5:11, 11:7, 11:9)
LIU Jia – Georgina POTA 2:3 (9:11, 11:9, 12:10, 6:11, 8:11)

Metz TT – Postas Sport Egyesulet 3:0
FU Yu – Krisztina AMBRUS 3:0 (11:3, 12:10, 11:9)
WU Jiaduo – LI Jiao 3:0 (11:6, 14:12, 11:7)
Laura GASNIER – Rita KERTAI 3:1 (11:7, 3:11, 14:12, 11:5)