Zenit KAZAN has to bring into action its strongest players to win over CSKA SOFIA

Kazan, Russia, December 2, 2009. Russian Zenit KAZAN won the first match of the main phase Men’s CEV Indesit European Champions’ League. On Wednesday the champion of Russia won match on its site against CSKA SOFIA (3:1, 24-26, 25-23, 25-18, 25-17). The Kazan team began the match with its reserve team and lost the first set. After that, the strongest player of the Russian team appeared on the playground and won 3 sets in a row.

 

The head coach of the Kazan team, Vladimir Alekno, shocks the fans and the rival. Main players, who forged the victory over Dinamo Moscow in the Russian Championship match are sent to warm-up sector. Stanley, Tetykhin, Ball and Bogomolov get a chance to rest. Can Zenit outplay Bulgarian team even without these guys?

The beginning of the match has proved that it will be quite difficult. Russians succeed to catch up with breaking away competitor by Abrosimov's serves. The score is 9:9 after his ace. Kenyan opposite of the away team consistently strikes out, but his vis-à-vis scores goals and earns cheering of the coach.

At the end of the set Bulgarian team brilliantly plays at blocking. Todorov and Ivanov blocks Cheremisin's attacks as well as Panteleymonenko's strokes. Finally, visiting team wins the first set with the score 26:24.

 

Stanley and Tetyukhin appear on the playground after the break. Kazan team gains advantage right away. The score is 14:14 after Apalikov's attack. However CSKA SOFIA is not planning to surrender. At first, Maiyo plays of the block and then scores a goal in the line and aces 14:14. Todorov blocks Tetyukhin and Stanley's attacks in turns. The situation becomes critical for Zenit. With the score 19:16 Alekno takes time-out and brings Zenit's captain Lloy Ball into action. It becomes a crucial point. Stefanov hits the antenna and the scoreboard shows parity – 21:21. Maxim makes it set ball for Kazan team and Stanley crosses the T's in the set by his accurate attack.

 

Initially Stanley scores points by forceful strikes and then by very accurate attacks. Tetyukhin also aces – 20:15. Apalikov confirms the victory by block. Kazan team wins the third set owing to Stanley and Tetyukhin's effective serves.

 

The fight continues only till the technical time-out in the fourth set. After that Kazan team breaks away. Panteleymonenko sends the ball right into between two hands of the lonely opposite – 12:8. Apalikov and Stanley block Stefanov's attacks, making the away team coach to send him to the bench – 19:13. CSKA is absolutely off their game.

 

CSKA SOFIA captain, Nikolay Ivanov said: "The starting line-up of the Kazan team was an absolute surprise for us. We managed to win the first set, but then Zenit brought into action its strongest players and we couldn't outplay them.

 

The Head coach Zenit KAZAN, Vladimir Alekno said: "They should help their team, but they began the match as practice one. I'm really dissatisfied. We'll make a certain conclusion". Zenit's spiker, Maxim Panteleymonenko has become the most effective player of the match. He has scored 22 points. The most effective player of CSKA SOFIA is Philip Maiyo, whose score is 19 points.