Champions League Men | 7 May 2017
Huge advantage for Orenburg after 1st leg of TTCLM final
Photo: ZHURAVLEV
First final match was held in Germany: Borussia Dusseldorf – Fakel Gazprom Orenburg 0:3. Returning leg will take place on May 12th (14:00 CET).
The 2016/17 TTCLM top seed secured huge advantage in the first final leg held in Germany: Borussia Dusseldorf - Fakel Gazprom Orenburg 0:3 (3:9). Returning match is scheduled for May 12th (14:00 CET).
Two team mates from the German National Team, Timo BOLL (World No. 8) and Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (No. 5) showed world class table tennis, as Orenburg`s star won after full five games. Host, six times individual European champion, found himself in unpleasant situation in the ultimate game (1:6, 5:9, 7:10) but managed to recover.
Culmination started when double individual European champion OVTCHAROV earned three match balls in the fifth set. But host, supported by sold out ARAG CenterCort (1,100), managed to reverse the score from 7:10 to 11:10 and had one more match ball on his side. BOLL missed a huge chance on 11:10 to conclude the clash, when OVTCHAROV did breathtaking return. Since BOLL missed his second match ball, guest took three points in a row and win.
Jun MIZUTANI improved his season`s individual score to 14-0, as he overcame Stefan FEGERL in straight games. Japanese won all three sets convincingly and has a chance to finish 2016/17 season undefeated, something not seen for years in this competition.
Vladimir SAMSONOV, who spent six season in Borussia`s jersey and won three TTCLM titles with them, now provided third point for Orenburg. Belarus defeated Kristian KARLSSON in four games. Swede did everything he could to push the clash to the fifth set, but missed a set ball in the fourth game.
TTCLM 1st final leg
BORUSSIA DUSSELDORF – FAKEL GAZPOM ORENBURG 0:3
Timo BOLL – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV 2:3 (11:7, 5:11, 8:11 11:6, 12:14)
Stefan FEGERL – Jun MIZUTANI 0:3 (7:11, 8:11, 5:11)
Kristian KARLSSON – Vladimir SAMSONOV 1:3 (4:11, 11:9, 5:11, 10:12)
