Match # F-001 Iskra ODINTSOVO vs Iraklis THESSALONIKI

Men's Final Four Indesit European Champions League

15:50 The first semi-final match of the Indesit European Champions League Final Four tournament is about to start between ODINTSOVO and THESSALONIKI.

15:59 Referees: LABASTA (CZE), ANTONOV (BUL)

1st SET

Starting Six:

Iskra ODINTSOVO: AFINOGUENOV (6), GORIOUCHOV (5), ARKHIPOV (1), BEKETOV (9), BOGOMOLOV (2), KARPOV (8), BEKETOV (9) (C), KOMAREV (15) (L)

Iraklis THESSALONIKI: KRAVARIK (6) (C), BOZIDIS (10), HOFF (12), JELIAZKOV (14), GRANVORKA (16), BAEV (18), BAMBALIOUTAS (7) (L)

16:00 First semifinal starts for sold out arena packed with more than 5,000 fans.

16:07 Iraklis takes 8-5 lead at first technical time out. Spike of Granvorka and error of Iskra give Iraklis three point gap.

16:09 Ace Baev increases the Greek lead to 9-5.

16:12 Spike Goriouchov brings Iskra back (8-10). First time-out Iraklis

16:15 Iskra keeps scoring and takes over the lead. Second time-out Iraklis at 10-12.

16:17 Iskra blocks well and is leading 14-10 now.

16:19 Ace Kravarik for Iraklis (12-14)

16:20 New setter for Iraklis: Bozidis out, Kalmazidis in.

16:22 Second technical time-out at 16-14 Iskra.

16:23 Ace Arkhipov (17-14).

16:23 Bozidis back on the court for Iraklis

16:25 Iskra keeps leading. 20-17.

16:27 Block Granvorka for Iraklis, but Iskra still in front (22-20)

16:29 Service error Granvorka gives Iskra first set point at 24-21.

16:30 Spike Beketov brings first set to Iskra (25-22).

Best scorers of the first set: Beketov (Iskra) 6, Goriouchev (Iskra) 5, Kravarik (Iraklis) and Baev (Iraklis) 4.

2nd SET:

Starting six: IDEM for both teams

16:36 Ace from GRANVORKA and Attack from BAEV gives a first lead to Iraklis in this second set (5:3)

16:37 Another side-out by BAEV, Iraklis leads by 6:3

16:38 Iraklis seems to be a bit more concentrated and continues leading by 7:4

16:39 After a long rally which was won by Iskra, Iskra catches back at 7:6

16:40 First Technical Time-out for Iraklis (8-6)

16:42 Iskra levels the set at 8-8 after spike by GORIOUCHOV

16:44 Lot of serving errors from both teams brings the set at 10:10

16:45 2 strong serves from ARKHIPOV gives the lead to Iskra. First Time-Out Iraklis (12:10)

16:46 After tremendous spike by GRANVORKA and good serve from KRAVARIK, Iraklis levels the set at 12:12

16:49 Second Technical Time-out (16-14) Iskra Odintsovo.

16:51 After some confusion in the team, the coach of Iskra takes the first Tim-out (16-16)

16:52 The rallies are getting longer and more exciting. None of the teams can make the gap and take the lead (19-18) Iskra

16:54 Iraklis take second time-out after spike error from GRANVORKA, 20-18 Iskra

16:55 Serve error HOFF gives again a 2 points lead to Iskra 21:19

16:57 Substitution Iskra GORIOUCHOV out KOBRIN in 22-21 Iskra

16:58 Attack BEKETOV gives three set points to Iskra

16:59 Attack SALMON after weak serve from Iraklis brings the 2nd set to Iskra 25:22. Iskra leads 2:0

Best scorers after two sets: Beketov (Iskra) 13, Kravarik (Iraklis) and Baev (Iraklis) 7, Goriouchev (Iskra) 6.

3rd SET:

Starting Six: IDEM for Iskra, Iraklis : HOFF out, GKIRITZIDIS in

17:06 Complete balanced set, many serve mistakes by both teams, nobody can make the difference 4:4

17:07 Iraklis now takes a slide advantage due to service GRANVORKA 6:4

17:08 Iskra thrills back and levels the set again at 6:6

17:08 Serve BEKETOV, bad reception by the Iraklis libero, Iskra takes the lead at 7:6

17:09 1st Technical Time-out for Iskra (8:7) after serve error from JELIAZKOV (Iraklis).

17:11 1st Time-out Iraklis, Iskra took a lead of two points 9-7

17:12 Reception difficulties at Iraklis, and strong serves from Iskra gives Iskra a lead of 11-8

17:14 Substitution Iraklis GKIRTZIDIS out HOFF in 12:9

17:14 Iraklis strikes back at 12-13 Iskra

17:17 Substitution Iskra SALMON out KARPOV in. 2nd Technical Time-out, Iraklis leads 16-14

17:18 Spike from BAEV keeps the lead for Iraklis 17-15

17:20 Substitution Iskra KARPOV out BEKETOV in 16-18 Iraklis

17:21 Good blocks from Iskra levels the set and brings Iskra to a 19-18 lead. Substitution Iraklis HOFF out GKIRTZIDIS in.

17:23 Set leveled at 20:20 after strong fights of both teams.

17:24 Iraklis doesn't give up and keeps the score at 21:21

17:25 2nd Time-out Iraklis 21:22 Iskra

17:27 Iskra takes a 2 point lead after attack error by GRANVORKA 23-21

17:28 Iskra blocks BAEV and gives the first match points to Iskra 24:22

17:28 Spike BEKETOV gives the victory to Iskra ODINTSOVO 25:23

Iskra ODINTSOVO is the first team qualified for the Final Match to be played on 28th March at 19:30 in BELGOROD.

Iraklis THESSALONIKI will play for the places 3-4 at 16:00h local time.

Best scorers of the match: Beketov (Iskra) 21, Baev (Iraklis) 14, Kravarik (Iraklis) 13, Granvorka (Iraklis) 10, Goriouchev (Iskra) 9.