Champions League Men | 19 Jan 2022

First semifinalists: Fakel GAZPROM Orenburg vs. TTSC UMMC

The first semifinalists in the European Champions Legue Men are known: TTSC UMMC will meet Fakel Gazprom Orenburg. In the second leg of the Quarterfinal played today, TTSC UMMC prevailed against Germany’s TTC Neu-Ulm in the match played in Verkhnaya Pyshma. Two Russia’s heavyweights will clash in the second half of the February.

In the opening leg UMMC beat Neu Ulm 3:0 in Germany, but big advantage did not make them less cautious nor less thirsty for victories today. Liam PITCHFORD beat Vladimir SIDORENKO 3:0 after young Russia’s star managed to put Liam under pressure at the begining of the encounter. Two opening games concluded by narrow margin, but after the finish of the second game, when SIDORENKO did not take advantage of the game point at 12:11, Liam took control over the match (13:11, 14:12, 11:5).

Jonathan GROTH overcame Lev KATSMAN 3:0 (11:7, 11:4, 11:5); Tomislav PUCAR prevailed against Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS (11:5, 16:14, 11:2).

"We are very pleased to go through to the semifinal. It was very good match from all of three of us. We were focused, we knew what we needed to do. We won the first duel 3:0 , but since the new system is on the game we knew we have to be focused and to win the match. We did not give them any chances. To win 3:0 twice against such strong team gives us confidence and we are looking forward semifinal,” said PITCHFORD.

After defeat in the opening leg in straight matches, Sporting Clube de Portugal announced they will not travel to Orenburg due the outbreak of the Corona virus. That means we will have two Russia’s team in the run for the place in the final next month.