Challenge Cup 2010/2011

    Azerrail won and Lokomotiv lost in the GM Challenge Cup



    In the first match of the second round of the GM Challenge Cup, Azerrail earned an easy straight set victory over Greek team Markopoulo Revoil, 3:0 (25:20, 25:11, 25:14). Even though the Greek team was able to keep up with Azerrail in the first set, in the second and third Azerrail quickly opened up the lead and never looked back, finishing the game in just over an hour.


    At the same time, Lokomotiv was edged by the Russian Omichka team, 3:2. Omichka took the first set 25:22, but Lokomotiv evened the match at one by taking the second set 25:20. Azerbaijani team carried the momentum into the third set, winning it again 25:20 to take a 2:1 lead in the match. However, Russians took the fourth set 25:21, sending the match to a decisive fifth set, which also went to the host team, 15:10.






    The Challenge Cup return leg matches will be played next week, when Igtisadchi and Azerrail will travel to Austria and Greece, respectively, and Lokomotiv will host Omichka in Baku.


    To qualify for the next round, all Azerbaijani teams need to win their second matches, as per new CEV regulations, the team qualifying for the next round is determined by the results of two games, irrespective of number of sets won and lost. In case of a tie - 1 match won, 1 match lost and no matter whether the matches finish 3:0, 3:1 or 3:2 – teams have to play one extra set, called golden set.


    Polina Rahimova 10 aces!!!

    Do you have any live stream to watch Lokomotiv match?

    “Lokomotiv” - “Omiçka” - 3:0 (25:16, 25:23, 26:24)
    Golden set 16-14 :dance6:
    Even I couldn't watch the match I think it was too hard. I just tried to watch from skype :D

    Lokomotiv played an amazing game. They kept fighting and won in the end. Metcalf played amazing. I don't know why Ortiz did not play 2nd and 3rd sets but played in the golden set.

    Lokomotiv downs Omichka 4-0!!! GREAT match!



    In front of a full house of about 3,000 fans at the Sarhadchi Sports Arena, Lokomotiv Baku defeated tough Russian Omichka team in straight sets 3:0 (25:16, 25:23, 26:24) and won the "golden set" 16:14 to advance to the next round of the GM Challenge Cup.


    In the opening set, Lokomotiv forged ahead 8:7 and kept Omichka at bay, extending the lead to 16:13. Out of the second technical timeout hosts went on a 9:3 run to win the set, 25:16.


    Lokomotiv came out strong again in the second set to claim an early 8:4 advantage. Host team pushed the margin to its widest at the 12:6 mark with Yelena Parkhomenko`s powerful attacks and Kseniya Kovalenko`s killing blocks before Omichka exploded with a 9:3 run to erase the deficit and then take an 18:17 lead with an amazing game of Bulgarian Eva Yaneva. Down by one point at 21:22, Lokomotiv responded with a 4:1 run of its own to snatch the set 25:23.


    In the third set, teams went neck-to-neck all the way to 11:11, before Lokomotiv took what seemed like a comfortable 17:12 lead. Immediately, Omichka fueled a 7:0 run with a block and series of kills to push the tally to 17:19. Trailing 22:23, Lokomotiv answered with two-straight points. A successful attack by Russians evened the set at 24 before Lokomotiv connected on back-to-back kills to end the match 26:24 and tie the series 1:1.


    Even though after two games Lokomotiv had a better set ratio, under new CEV regulations, in case of a tie (1 match won, 1 match lost), irrespective of sets ratio, teams now had to play one extra set, called"golden set" to determine the winner.


    Going into the decisive "golden set", Lokomotiv dug itself a massive 2:6 hole early on. Several minutes later the situation turned dire as Russian team extended the lead to five points, 5:10. With Oksana Mammadyarova`s services and brilliance performance by Nancy Metcalf Lokomotiv, however, had no intentions of "going gently into that good night", as the team mounted a comeback of epic proportions to tie the game at 12, and then take a 14:12 lead. With their backs against the wall, Omichka saved two match points to level the set at 14, but it was Lokomotiv that finished the set and the match 16:14, sending the jubilant crowd in the stands into absolute frenzy.

    Hero of the match was:

    How looks a system of separating and sampling Teams in the next round of the Challenge Cup?

    GCB Centostal BYGOSZCZ (POL) has withdrawn from the 2011 European Cups. Apollon LIMASSOL (CYP) qualifies for the 8th Final.

    Lloyd + Naz + Wołosz + Hanke + Smutná + Mori
    Bokan + Zakrievskaja + Bricio + Vilponen + Jupïter + A.Lazić + Stepanova + Marković
    Onyejekwe + N.Dimitrova + Crkoňová + de Kruijf + Truškina + Thibeault + Omelčenko + Schauss
    Rourke + Bošković + Fabris + Kajalina + Collar + Simić + Miklai + Vasilantonaki
    Courtois + Venegas + Gaído + Castillo + Gómez + Kiselyova

    The critical financial situation of the sponsor. Now Bydgoszcz fight to the chance to still play in the PlusLiga Kobiet.

    Bydgoszcz will be eliminated from the European Cups for many years probably.
    Who knows what will happen with Athens. CEV very don't like when Teams withdraw from the European Cups.

    I am reading the 16th Final and I see that it is very possible that in the Final Four will be Uralochka NTMK Ekaterinburg ^^ and .. 3 Teams from Baku ! Is it possible that CEV will allowed to the situation?

    Final Four Tournament cancelled – Organization of semi-finals and finals with home and away matches to determine the 1st, 2nd and 3rd ranked teams.

    Quote from SHABOVTA

    There are not Final Fours in CEV and Challenge Cups.


    Great CEV.No money no sponsors no party. :lol: