All-Azerbaijani finale in the GM Challenge Cup: Azerrail vs. Lokomotiv

Almost two hours of play were needed this afternoon in Nizhny Tagil before Azerrail Baku stamped a 3:1 (25:15, 25:21, 23:25, 25:19) win over the hosts of Uralochka-NTMK Yekaterinburg to qualify to the final of the 2011 GM Capital Challenge Cup, after having already claimed the first match staged this past Tuesday in Azerbaijan. The last act of this competition will turn into an Azerbaijani affair as Azerrail will be playing there the winner of the derby starring Igtisadchi and Lokomotiv.

Azerrail enjoyed a very easy and smooth run in the opening set, going for the 25:15 via the splendid attacks of an unstoppable Polina Rahimova. Although Uralochka did play significantly better in the second set, Azerrail still had the upper hand, by keeping full command of the operations and stamping the 25:21 that moved the count to 2:0.

The Russians were able to bring a set home as they fought with all their hearts also to compensate the absence of their captain Evgenia Estes (Artamonova), sidelined by a back injury. After trailing down 15:16, Uralochka was able to turn the score around and regularly block Polina Rahimova for the final 25-23. Uralochka extended that good rhythm also to the opening of set 4, where the hosts went ahead 8:6 but they were ultimately hampered by their many errors in attack and defense, paving the way for the final 25:23 stamped by Azerrail.

Best scorers of the game were Polina Rahimova with 29 points for Azerrail and Marina Maryukhnich with 17 for Uralochka.

In the second match of the GM Challenge Cup semifinal, Lokomotiv Baku defeated Igtisadchi in a "golden set" 15:13 and advanced to the final of the competition where they will face Azerrail for an all-Azerbaijani finale.

Lokomotiv won the first semifinal match against Igtisadchi 3:0 last Wednesday, but then they lost the return match 2:3 (25:23, 20:25, 22:25, 25:14, 8:15) on Sunday afternoon. The right to play in the final was decided in the "golden set", where Lokomotiv prevailed in a hard fought battle, 15:13.

Now, two Baku clubs will clash in the final for the right to bring the second European volleyball cup to Azerbaijan.

Prior to this year, only Italy has had two of its teams meet in the final of this tournament.