Ukraine and Turkey to fight in the Grand Finale of the Golden #EuroLeagueM

Ukraine, the 2017 #EuroLeagueM titleholders, and Turkey, the defending CEV Volleyball European Golden League champions, will enter the courts on Sunday to decide who the best team in the 2021 edition of the competition is. On Saturday, Turkey rose like a phoenix in the semi-final match vs Estonia winning at 3-2 after being down two sets, while Ukraine stormed for a 3-0 win vs the hosts of the Final Four tournament - Belgium.

The most important match will take place on June 20, starting at 20:00 h CEST, while the Bronze medal match between Estonia and Belgium is set to start at 17:00 CEST, both streamed live on EuroVolley.TV

First semi-final match, Estonia v Turkey

In the first semi-final match of the day, Turkey outclassed Estonia, who also have two crowns to their name, in 2016 and in 2018, respectively. The players around Cedric Enard actually started much better in the match, leading at 2-0, but afterwards the top scorer of the League Round, Adis Lagumdzija and his teammates came back, eventually claiming a 3-2 victory. Lagumdzija topped the charts again, recording 36 points to his name. The good performance on the block by the Turkish players (14) became the key to the success, while Estonia were better on the winning spikes (60 to 51), and on the serve (12 aces compared to 6 by Turkey).

• Turkey started better in the beginning, but thanks to Estonia's Ardo Kreek ace and Timo Tammemaa's two consecutive blocks, the Estonian players turned things around. Turkey, on the other hand, were suffering from some unforced errors, and Kristo Kollo took the opportunity at the end of the set showing good performance on the serve and spike. 

• Estonia were more stable in the second set, with Oliver Venno on the serve making it difficult for Turkey's reception. The players around head coach Nedim Özbey had some difficuties in organising the attack, letting unforced errors in defence and on the serving line affect the score. Estonia continued building a comfortable lead, and despite Turkey's top scorer Adis Lagumdzija trying his best, Tammemaa and Kollo stole in the end.  

• Turkey rose like a phoenix in the third set, taking an early lead. Yigit Gülmezoglu and Adis Lagumdzija were showing good skills on the winning spikes, but with the set unfolding, Estonia also got better on  attack breathing down Turkey's necks. It was the better play on the block (five in this set) that allowed Turkey to keep the leadership.

• Estonia weren’t ready to give up, and stormed out for a 5-1 in the beginning of the next set. What followed on the field was a point-for-a-point race. Märt Tammeraru shined for Estonia in these moments, but Yigit Gülmezoglu and Efe Ramazan Mandiraci helped in the decisive moments at 18-16. 

• Bedirhan Bülbül and Gülmezoglu took things in their hands in the tie break, although the players around Cedric Enard were also pushing hard. In a cat-and-mouse game, Turkey grabbed their chances and are already looking forward to the Final. 

Second semi-final match, Ukraine v Belgium

Ukraine stormed out for a 3-0 over the hosts from Belgium, recording as many as 13 aces that, in the end, became crucial on the road to the victory. Team leader Plotnytskyi became top server with 9 aces to his name, and a total of 19 points.

The players around head coach Ugis Krastins needed 97 minutes to outclass the opponent and book their spot at the Final, being better in all the elements of the game. The Red Dragons were showing equal skill only on the block, finishing with 7, compared by the 8 of Ukraine.  

• Ukraine started much better in the match, showing better skills in all the components. Plotnytskyi was above all in these moments, contributing the most for the building up of a comfortable point difference. Ukraine opened in their favour better on the block (4) and on the serve (3 aces).  

• In the next set, Ukraine stormed out for a quick 10-3, and it was again Plotnytskyi, who was shining on the court. The Ukrainian players made it quite difficult for Belgium’s reception, although Sam Deroo and Jolan Cox tried to interact in the middle of the set,  but Ian Ireshchenko supported by Plotnytskyi helped Ukraine get back on track. With 8 aces in this set, Ukraine got closer to the victory. 

• Ukraine were better on attack in the beginning of the next set, while Belgium dominated on the block. The Red Dragons  weren’t giving up, tying the score, and seizing the opportunity after a momentous lack of concentration by Ukraine. However, it was too late to turn things around, as Ukraine reacted quickly with sharp attacks and congratulated themselves with the victory.