Europe
CEV Cup Final
Trento needs breakthrough in return leg
CEV Cup final first leg
Energy T.I. Diatec Trentino (ITA) – Dinamo Moscow (RUS) 1-3 (23-25, 25-23, 22-25, 21-25)
ENERGY T.I. DIATEC TRENTINO – DINAMO MOSCOW 1-3 (23-25, 25-23, 22-25, 21-25) – ENERGY T.I. DIATEC TRENTINO : Kaziyski 18, Birarelli 11, Zygadlo, Nemec 15, Giannelli, Lanza 15, SolÉ 9, Colaci (L), Fedrizzi. DNP Nelli, Mazzone, Burgsthaler. Coach. Stoytchev.
DINAMO MOSCOW : Obmochaev (L), Pankov, Grankin 4, Ermakov (L), Biryukov 16, Berezhko 9, Markin 4, Philippov, Holt 8, Shcherbinin 4, Kruglov 26. DNP Zaytsev. Coach. Marichev.
Moscow stroke first in the CEV Cup final with a 3-1 win in Trento. The Italians had been undefeated on home soil since April 13, 2014, but the Russians proved too powerful on the night. The visitors indeed looked physically stronger in the block-dig area. In order to win its fourth European Cup, Trento will now need a real breakthrough on Saturday in Moscow. They have to win in three or four sets in order to play the consequent golden set. A tough task considering the level of play seen from the Russians, who were led by a terrific Kruglov (2 blocks, 1 ace and a total of 26 points). As for the hosts, Kaziyski and Nemec (18 and 15 points) were the main men but individual prowess here and there proved insufficient to avoid defeat.
Radostin Stoytchev (allenatore Energy T.I. Diatec Trentino): “Congratulations to Dinamo Moscow, they were stronger than us not only in blocking but also in dig. It’s not that often that you find Russian teams as effective and strong in those areas. We played under par tonight, especially in attack, and when they put us under pressure we did not find the answer. In the third set, we had a poor start too, we made too many mistakes, which made things even easier for them. Still, it’s not over yet, there is one more game to be played in Moscow and we will give everything we have”.
Final return leg
Saturday April 11 at 5pm (Italian time)
Dinamo Moscow (RUS) – Energy T.I. Diatec Trentino (ITA)
(Hodon-Adler)
