Lokomotiv BAKU barely avoids golden set in Schwerin

2011 GM Capital Challenge Cup - Women

Schwerin, Germany, March 1, 2011. Azerbaijan’s Lokomotiv BAKU qualified to the semis of the 2011 GM Capital Challenge Cup by backing up their home win from last week with a close 3:2 scored tonight in their return game against SCHWERINER SC of Germany (17-25, 25-23, 16-25, 25-23, 16-14). In the next round Lokomotiv may have a derby with the compatriots of Igtisadchi BAKU who scored a 3:0 win over Kralovo Pole BRNO in the first round of the 4th finals.
After losing 0:3 in Baku, the hosts wanted to display a very good performance tonight in front of their many fans – some 1,780 - and go for revenge to eventually play the golden set. The girls from BAKU – who lined-up Kamenova, Kovalenko, Parkhomenko, Richards, Metcalf and Keldibekova – struggled to find their rhythm and so the opening set was totally dominated by SCHWERINER SC. The second was very close, with the home side moving up to 8:7 by the first technical break before BAKU could edge out the opponents in a very tough final rush (23-25). Lokomotiv played a solid opening in set nr 3 (6:8) but SCHWERINER SC could draw to 10 all. With a very good efficiency from the serving line, the Germans moved up to 19:14 and even a time-out asked by the Azerbaijani coach could not avoid the final 25-16.
Supported by some 60 fans that had made it to the local arena, LOKOMOTIV stormed back in the fourth set (4:8) and played with great consistency for the provisional 11:17. After a hard fight, SCHWERINER SC could almost close the gap (20:21) and some more exciting rallies followed before BAKU claimed the 2:2 (23-25).
The tie-break started well for the hosts but BAKU went up as the teams changed sides (6:8) before a standing ovation helped SCHWERINER SC claim the 10 all. Lokomotiv stamped the provisional 10:13 but as the hosts came closer (12:13), their coach Dragutin Baltic asked for a break but SCHWERINER SC claimed the next point. Lokomotiv had then a first match ball but could close the game only a few rallies later (14-16).
“We made it to the next round and that is the most important thing for us” said Orkhan Huseynov, the team manager of Lokomotiv BAKU. Even though his team lost the game Tore Aleksandersen, coach of SCHWERINER SC, found fair words after the match: “We lost the match but it was a game at a very high level for both teams. And I just can compliment all our players and the audience”.

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