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Liebherr Euro Champions League - 6th Round

Reports of the sixth round

First published on Sunday, January 20, 2002

Last updated on Thursday, February 28, 2002

ETTU Press Release

GROUP A:

Sunday, 20. 1. 2002, 15 h: TTC VP Frydek-Mistek – Borussia Düsseldorf 0:3

The group victory belongs to the sensation team of Borussia Düsseldorf! With a result appearing superior the “Boy Group” of Düsseldorf remained at the lead. But the encounter could have proceeded also differently. Particularly the first two matches hung in the balance. Lars Hielscher against Martin Olejnik and Michael Maze against Marek Klasek, respectively, both in the fifth game at the equal score of 5:5, made their own luck through ability. Bastian Steger completed the success against Miroslav Zajic, which had to substitute Frantisek Krcil who was fallen ill. “It was for certain an advantage for us, that Krcil was not able to take part”, Düsseldorf coach Andreas Preuss declares, “but it wasn't an easy match so either. We have mastered it well and I am very proud of my boys. It is really terrific that we are in the semi-final around the title but it is the main thing that we are qualified for the next year of the champions League. We wouldn't have dared to dream of this few months ago yet. Düsseldorf meets in the semi-finals SVS Niederösterreich; Frydek–Mistek gets Zagreb as competitor against relegation.

Olejnik - Hielscher 7:11, 11:9, 9:11, 11:4, 7:11
Klasek - Maze 11:5, 8:11, 10:12, 11:8, 6:11
Zajic - Steger 4:11, 11:7, 7:11, 6:11

Sunday, 20. 1. 2002,17 h: TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen – Royal Villette Charleroi 1:3

Disappointment in Ochsenhausen! The victory against the world champion, secretly hoped, turned out only as wishful thinking. The decision was practically made already in the first match: Kalinikos Kreanga was rather considerably subdued by Jean-Michel Saive, which was fully motivated this time and really excellently played. Vladimir Samsonov, the top star of our elite League, then met the expectations with two safe victories. Alexei Smirnov provided the point of honour for the Upper Swabians beating the Japanese Muneaki Mitamura with 3:1. We had a full crowd and roaring spirits but, unfortunately, this also has been of no use for us”, Ochsenhausen manager Christoph Reuhl mourns. We cracked up already with Kreanga's prelude defeat since of course everybody expected Samsonov’s two wins. But there is no time for depression for us, we must prepare for the relegation match against Caen.” the team of the league sponsor has to prevent there nothing less than the direct way down. Club world champion Charleroi must put up with the second group rank this time because of the defeat against Düsseldorf which is tie on points, will have to fight for the finals against TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau.

Kreanga - Saive 7:11, 11:8, 6:11, 7:11
Feng Zhe - Samsonov 8:11, 6:11, 11:6, 5:11
Smirnov - Mitamura 6:11, 11:7, 11:7, 11:9
Kreanga - Samsonov 8:11, 10:12, 10:12

GROUP B:

Friday, 18. 1. 2002, 17.30 h: STK Vecernji List Zagreb — TTC Caen 3:2

The Croatian champion has accomplished its first goal! In a real battle of nerves the French tradition club was conquered tightly and the third group rank could be fixed with this victory. The starting point for the relegation fight has got more favourable around something with that. Alan Bentsen and Roko Tosic offered, like always, pure performances and had to submit only to the excellently operating old hand Damien Eloi. This time, the complete success Zagreb's is thanks also to its number three, Dominik Klaric, which celebrated its first victory in Europe’s royal class against Jerome Bahuaud. Both clubs fight for the class receipt now. The Croatians play Frydek–Mistek while an even harder task is being still to come for Caen with Ochsenhausen.

Bentsen - Bratanov 7:11, 11:9, 11:2, 11:4
Tosic - Eloi 8:11, 9:11, 8:11
Klaric - Bahuaud 11:8, 11:7, 8:11, 11:6
Bentsen – Eloi 6:11, 9:11, 11:9, 11:13
Tosic - Bratanov 11:9, 11:3, 6:11, 11:8

Saturday, 19. 1. 2002, 16 h: SVS Niederösterreich—TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau 3:0

The hoped terrific table tennis show turned out as a flop, because the already being certain group winner lined up only with its second best team. What, of course, granted a superior success to the Lower Austrians but pleased the spectators less. In the relaxed encounter of practice character there was little resistance, only one match showed itself really disputed: Young hope Jörg Schlichter demanded Kostadin Lengerov and made the game of honour for the Germans. “I think that Grenzau didn’t want to come along with their best squad because the stars worried about their clean slate”, Lower Austria’s Dr. Friedschröder thinks, “however, we have seen some super games, and also the mood with the audience was better as me feared. However, for the reputation of the champions League and in consequence for the table tennis sports this match doesn’t seem very positive.” “We wanted to give our young talents a chance for such a match, because the ranking was already final before”, on the other hand, argues Grenzau’s Annette Jacobs. The Lower Austrians meet Borussia Düsseldorf in the semi-final while the world’s champion is waiting for Grenzau.

Chen Weixing - Feth 15:13, 11:2, 11:8
Schlager - Chen Zhibin 12:10, 11:8, 11:5
Lengerov - Schlichter 12:14, 12:10, 11:5, 12:10

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Liebherr Euro Champions League - 6th Round

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