Outstanding Aciobanitei & Romania stun the Olympic champs in Tel Aviv, Martins leads Portugal to new success
Romania dropped a bombshell in #EuroVolleyM so far! The team under the guidance of head coach Sergiu Stanciu outclassed the reigning champions of France, claiming a victory at 3-1. Adrian Aciobanitei was unstoppable, recording 20 points for the win (an impressive 77% exc. in attack). The good work on the block (nine to six kill blocks) was crucial for the victory of the Romanians. On the other hand, France were better on attacking (58 to 47 winning spikes), but let too many own errors influence the final score (31 to 17).
In the second match of the day, Portugal and Türkiye also delivered a great spectacle. The players under the guidance of head coach Joao Miguel Jose congratulated themselves with a win after a hard-fought game in five sets. Lourenco Martins and Alex Ferreira became the heroes for their team, finishing with 23 and 24 points respectively (62% and 51% exc.).
Romania started in a very good way in the match, recording five winning spikes and one kill block in the beginning of the first set (11-7). The players of Sergiu Stancu kept controlling the game (21-19), while France were suffering from own errors. Romania even showed nerves of steel when Les Bleus took the leadership position at the end (22-23) to eventually take the opener at 25-23 mainly thanks to a better performance on the block (three kill blocks to one).
Inspired, the Romanian players took an early lead in the second set as well (8-5), but the players of Andrea Giani were able to turn the tables. Speeding up on their attacks (13 to eight), they tied the set score to 1-1 after 25-16.
This didn’t disappoint Romania, as they entered even more motivated in the third set, leading at 7-3. On the other hand, France kept struggling with own errors, and with 10 to their names (to two), lost the set.
It was a close call in the fourth set, as the two teams went head-to-head (15-16). With the most important moments of the match approaching, Romania remained the more concentrated team seized the win.
The first set set the tone for an exciting match ahead. With none of the teams giving up, the spectators in Shlomo Group Arena, including Mr. Aleksandar Boričić, CEV President, enjoyed some high-class Volleyball. After a point-for-point race, Portugal emerged victorious from the opener thanks to a slightly better performance in attack (15 to 14 winning spikes) and better blocking (three to two).
The Turkish team responded immediately, storming in the second set (18-12). With captain Alex Ferreira, who was playing as an opposite, on the serve and Lourenco Martins excellent in attack, Portugal had their chances to come back (18-19). However, some own mistakes costed them a better outcome, and Türkiye tied back the set score.
Inspired, the players of Alberto Giuliani left no doubts over who was the better team on the court in the third set - 12 to nine winning spikes, three to zero kill blocks, three to one aces.
It was a cat-and-mouse game in the fourth part of the match, but this time around Portugal showed nerves of steel. Slightly better on attack (57% to 54%), on reception (61% to 52% pos.) and on the blocking (three to one), the players of head coach Joao Miguel Jose brought the game into a tiebreaker.
The teams continued chasing each other in the score in the deciding part as well, but it was Portugal that congratulated themselves with the success.
Lourenco Martins“It is an amazing feeling! Türkiye are our black sheep, and we are really happy that this time around, we one! I think that our serve entered a bit better than theirs, and Alex playing as an opposite also had a pivotal role. Now, we are looking forward to seeing the standings in the Pool!”
Outside spiker