21.03.2009 | MATCH
DESCRIPTION
Lokomotiv Survives
First-Set Scare, Qualifies to Final
ATHENS, 21 March -- Lokomotiv-Belogorie
Belgorod of Russia survived a first-set scare from
Spain's Unicaja Almeria to win the second semifinal
of the day in four sets 3-1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-18,
25-23) and qualify to Sunday's final of the 2009
Men's CEV Cup Final.
With setter Vadim Khamuttskikh
playing for less than two sets, the Russians found a tough opponent in Almeria,
which took a lead early in first set and shocked the two-times European
Champions with a final 23-25.
Almeria took the lead again in
the second set, leading by two in the first technical time-out and by three in
the second, but wiith Denis Ignatyev stepping in for Khamuttskikh, the Russians
turned the match around to tie the overall score at 1-1, with a 25-22 finish.
The Russians led throughout the
third set, and ended it with ease at 25-18, for an overall score of 2-1, giving
the impression that it would all be downhill from there on.
But the Spaniards were a hardy
lot. They once more took the lead throughout the fourth set, and were ahead by
two at the second technical time-out, before Lokomotiv came back to tie the
score at 19-19 and give the ultimate thrust to the final victory, with 25-23.
The Russians had well-balanced
scoring, with captain Sergey Tetyukhin getting 16, Alexandr Kosarev 15, and
Taras KJhtey and Dmitry Musersky adding 13 each. Almeria's Juan Carlos Barcala
was top scorer of the match, with 22 points.
The Russians, twice European Champions in the past,
will face the home team of Panathinaikos Athens, starting at 16:30 local time
(14:30 GMT). Earlier in the afternoon, Almeria play against Italy's Bre Banca
Lannutti Cuneo for bronze medal, starting at 14:00 local time (12:00 GMT).
