Russian UMMC beat at home Saarbrucken 3:0 in opening game of Men`s European Champions League Round 5 to secure the top spot of Group C. The 2012 MECL runner-up improves its season record to 5-0 while German side (3-2) kept good chance to reach quarter f
Russian UMMC beat at home Saarbrucken 3:0 in opening game of Men`s European Champions League Round 5 to secure the top spot of Group C. The 2012 MECL runner-up improves its season record to 5-0 while German side (3-2) kept good chance to reach quarter final as second placed club from that group.
In first season`s game between these two clubs played in Saarbrucken two leading players was not available Jun MIZUTANI (UMMC) and Tiago APOLONIA (Saarbrucken). Today they met in opening encounter and Japanese confidently won in straight games. Portuguese had a small chance in second set when he had a two points advantage until the end (7:5 9:9) but host continued unbeaten having 7-0 individual score.
Other two matches had five sets each and both in the start promised better ending for German side. Both Adrien MATTENET and Bojan TOKIC led 2:0 in their clashes against Alexander SHIBAEV and Joao MONTEIRO respectively but host players replied by three winning sets in a row.
Especially TOKIC was close to the win having 2:1 9:8 against tall Russian. In the fifth set Slovenian led 9:7 and 10:9 but that not helped him to provide fourth match and new chance for his side.
Other Round 5 matches will be held this Friday and Saturday.
MECL Round 5
UMMC – Saarbrucken 3:0
Jun MIZUTANI – Tiago APOLONIA 3:0 (11:7 11:9 11:6)
Alexander SHIBAEV – Adrien MATTENET 3:2 (6:11 8:11 11:6 11:4 11:7)
Joao MONTEIRO – Bojan TOKIC 3:2 (4:11 8:11 11:4 11:9 12:10)