Challenge Cup: Final is Ziraat Bankkart Ankara – Powervolley Milano!
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Ziraat Bankası SK Ankara and Allianz Powervolley Milano will play for the trophy in the 2021 CEV Challenge Cup!
Turkey’s Ziraat Bankası SK Ankara narrowly avoided elimination from the competition and only one set separated Czech’s VK Lvi Praha from a sensational result: they beat Ziraat in straight sets in the 1st leg of the semifinals at home and took the opening set in the rematch. That’s when the Turkish side turned the course of the match, claiming the next 3 sets and Golden Set, and getting a promotion to the final.
Bulgarian Martin Atanasov was the man of the match for the Ankara club, scoring 26 points including 6 aces, while Slovenian Matej Mihajlović tallied 16 points for the Czechs, and Serbian Aleksandar Nedeljković set up 5 blocks.
On the other semifinal, played tonight, Italy’s Allianz Powervolley Milano secured the first-ever European final in their history!
In the rematch, the team coached by Roberto Piazza beat Turkey’s Halkbank Ankara in 3 sets after already prevailing over them on the road by a 3-1. Slovenian Tine urnaut top-scored Milano with 11 points (71 % attack, 10/14).
| 2020/21 CEV Challenge Cup | Semifinals
| First Leg | February 24
• Halkbank Ankara – Powervolley Milano 1-3 (25:22, 22:25, 18:25, 13:25)
• VK Lvi Praha – Ziraat Bankkart Ankara 3-0 (25:22, 25:14, 25:23)
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| Second Leg | March 3
• Allianz Powervolley Milano – Halkbank Ankara 3-0 (25:20, 25:22, 25:20)
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• Ziraat Bankkart Ankara – VK Lvi Praha 3-1 (26:28, 25:18, 25:21, 25:19 – GOLDEN SET: 15:12)
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