Champions League Men | 24 Jan 2014
Tight bottleneck for WECL champions
The finalists of 2013/14 Women’s European Champions League will be known this Sunday, when the second semi-final returning match Fenerbahce – Zamek (13h30 CET, 3:2 1st leg) will be finished. A day before Linz AG Froschberg will meet Berlin Eastside (20h15
The finalists of 2013/14 Women’s European Champions League will be known this Sunday, when the second semi-final returning match Fenerbahce – Zamek (13h30 CET, 3:2 1st leg) will be finished. A day before Linz AG Froschberg will meet Berlin Eastside (20h15 CET, 1:3)
Linz`s clash attracts huge interest. Reigning champion Froschberg suffered at Berlin very first loss in one and half year, so 2012 WECL winner arrives at Austria with big advantage – 3:1 (11:5 in sets). Austrian champion started excellent in Berlin`s clash, when LIU Jia beat the best host player SHAN Xiaona in five games, but in next three encounters Irina PALINA`s side dominated. Georgina POTA again did big job for Berlin, beating Iveta VACENOVSKA.
Berlin’s coach Irina PALINA didn’t want to go on returning game with the calculator in the hands, although she knows that his team needs to win one match and six sets. “We’re going to Linz to repeat the victory last week, everything else would be fatal!”, stressed Irina PALINA.
Linz AG Froschberg still has a goal to reach third WECL title, after 2009 and 2013. They won many exciting games on their soil and one of them is ultimate one in previous season, against Budaorsi 2i SC. LIU Jia, Iveta VACENOVSKA and Petrissa SOLJA are needing again good team work.
Top seed Fenerbahce is still unbeatable for Polish champion Zamek Tarnobrzeg. The best Turkish club was better in 2012/13 ETTU Cup final, winning also 1st semi final leg of 2013/14 WECL. Viktoria PAVLOVICH was not in her best shape in couple of group stage games, but she was fantastic at Poland. She beat Margaryta PESOTSKA and HAN Ying, twice 3:0. It was very first WECL loss of HAN who ended group stage with 9-0 score.
Polish side bases its chances, first of all, on HAN`s wins. If she bring two points, everything is possible in Istanbul.
Semi-final of 2013/14 Women’s European Champions League
Returning matches
Fenerbahce – Zamek Tarnobrzeg (January 26th, 13h30 CET)
Linz AG Froschberg – Berlin Eastside (January 25th, 20h15 CET)
First matches
Zamek Tarnobrzeg – Fenerbahce 2:3
Berlin Eastside – Linz AG Froschberg 3:1
