Champions League Men | 25 Jan 2014

Berlin on its way to another final

In the match between last two WECL champions, club from Germany secured the final of the Women’s European Champions League. Berlin repeated the success from the opening leg and beat defending champions Austria’s Linz in another five matches thriller. That made Berlin one step closer to their goal to reach all three trophies after they already had lift the trophy in German Cup.

The 2005 European champion LIU JIa improved her personal record and added another victory to already impressive 8:1 score. In the opening match Austria’s star beat Georgina POTA. Hungarian player who beat ECH champion LI Fen (SVS STROCK) in decisive match of ultimate round of group stage, to secure semi-final could not find the answer for LIU’s impressive performance. The duel ended in straight games.

However, the advantage for the host club did not last for long. Listed at the current World rankings at position no. 38, the 2013 European Championships runner-up SHAN Xiaona faced difficulties against Petrissa SOLJA, no. 49, only in the second game.

Iveta VACENOVSKA World’s no. 49 stretched Irene IVANCAN no. 61 to full distance, but failed to beat her. The win gave Germany’s club advantage they needed to secure passage to the next round.

In fourth duel LIU Jia overcame SHAN Xiaona in straight matches to prolong the encounter to the decisive match. The final stroke came from POTA. She overcame Sofia POLCANOVA in four games.

Women’s ECL semi-finals leg2

LINZ AG FROSCHBERG – TTC BERLIN EASTSIDE 2:3
LIU Jia – POTA Georgina 3:0 (11:6, 11:8, 11:3, 0:0, 0:0)
SOLJA Petrissa – SHAN Xiaona 1:3 (7:11, 11:7, 6:11, 4:11, 0:0)
VACENOVSKA Iveta – IVANCAN Irene 2:3 (11:9, 11:9, 9:11, 9:11, 9:11)
LIU Jia – SHAN Xiaona 3:0 (11:9, 11:6, 11:7, 0:0, 0:0)
POLCANOVA Sofia – POTA Georgina 1:3 (4:11, 11:9, 8:11, 9:11, 0:0)

Alex MILETIC, EWT, Alex MILETIC, EWT