Champions League Women | 30 Oct 2016

ECLW Round 2: Linz beats Cartagena

Round 2 concluded by Group B clash: LINZ AG FROSCHBERG – UCAM Cartagena 3:1

 

Double ECLW champion LINZ AG FROSCHBERG, the winner of 2008/09 and 2012/13 seasons, had a successful start of the 2016/17 edition, as it beat UCAM Cartagena at home 3:1. It was a good team work of Austrian side and unexpectedly bad performances of Cartagena`s World No. 8 CHENG I-Cheng who lost both her encounters.

 

Spanish team commenced with the win in the clash between two left-handers, as World No. 45 Matilda EKHOLM overcame World No. 21 LIU Jia in five games. The 2005 European individual champion LIU didn’t give up after 3:0 lead of EKHOLM in the fifth set, but Cartagena`s player decided the game by winning four points in a row (4:4, 8:4).

 

Linz`s newcomer from Canada ZHANG Mo (World No. 94) had an impressive debut, beating CHENG in straight games. The second set was decisive, when host came from 7:9 to 11:9, taking some points after amazing rallies.

 

Sofia POLCANOVA was better than Tetyana BILENKO in the third match, thus host side had an advantage before the clash of LIU and CHENG. After first two sets between two leading players, the score was leveled, but host reached the third one by narrow margin, saving one set ball. Crucial moments came in late fourth game when LIU managed to recover after 5:2 lead of CHENG (7:7, 10:7).

 

The 2016/17 ECLW Round 2

 

LINZ AG FROSCHBERG – UCAM Cartagena 3:1

 

LIU Jia – Matilda EKHOLM 2:3 (11:8, 9:11, 11:6, 9:11, 5:11)

ZHANG Mo – CHENG I-Ching 3:0 (11:6, 11:9, 11:2)

Sofia POLCANOVA – Tetyana BILENKO 3:1 (11:8, 7:11, 11:8, 11:8)

LIU Jia – CHENG I-Ching 3:1 (9:11, 11:6, 13:11, 11:8)