Champions League Women | 12 Feb 2017
Linz has no problem with Metz this time
Photo: Pillik
Austrian club reached ECLW semi-finals after 3:0 home victory
Double ECLW winner Linz AG Froschberg is continuing its presence in the semi-final of this prestigious competition, as they beat Metz 3:0 in the returning quarter-final leg held in Austria. Linz won first match 3:2 (12:8).
These two sides met in the last season`s quarter-finals too, when Linz celebrated thanks to just single point difrenence in total score (5:5 in matches, 19:19 in games, 347:346 in points).
Sophia POLCANOVA defeated Pauline CHASSELIN in four games of the opener, in spite of promising start of 19-year-old who recahed first set.
Two best players met in the second clash, as LIU Jia gain overcame FU Yu, this time in four sets (in France it was 3-0). The 2005 European champion LIU had no problem in the first two sets, but runner-up of 2016 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships refused to give up. FU easily won third game opened with six consecutive points in her favor.
In spite of having excellent start in the fourth set (6:1), LIU was short one point soon (8:9). But, Linz`s leading player managed to conclude this clash by her three points in a row.
MO Zhang confirmed Froschberg`s victory, beating Yunli SCHREINER who again replaced injured 2015 European champion Elizabeta SAMARA. All three sets were tense and close, guest saved some set-balls but after all MO deserved win.
The 2016/17 ECLW quarter-finals, 2nd leg
LINZ AG FROSCHBERG – METZ TT 3:0 (1st leg 3:2)
Sophia POLCANOVA – Pauline CHASSELIN 3:1 (9:11, 11:8, 11:3, 11:4)
LIU Jia – FY Yu 3:1 (11:8, 11:7, 2:11, 11:9)
MO Zhang – Yunli SCHREINER 3:0 (11:8, 12:10, 12:10)
