Golden-set drama in Maribor! OTP Banka Branik MARIBOR stunned Asterix Avo BEVEREN 3-1 (25-20, 25-11, 20-25, 25-22) in the second leg of the CEV Champions League Women 2027 second qualifying round, wiping out Beveren’s 3-0 first-leg win and forcing a golden set. The Belgian champions shook off the nerves, made a blistering start and closed the golden set 15-6 to advance. Iris Scholten led Beveren with 15 points, while Hauben, Wiegerinck and Demeyer added 13 each; Dariya Ivanova top-scored for Branik with 11. Next for Beveren: FC Porto, with legs on November 3 and 10 (per Sporza).
In Zagreb, Mladost ZAGREB pushed Turan TOVUZ all the way but fell 2-3 (22-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-23, 13-15), with the Azerbaijani side taking the tie-break by two points after a 139-minute battle. Pamella Owino was the match’s top scorer with a monster 29 points (25 kills), backed by Ana Ištuk (17) and Konstantina Vlachaki (16). Yelizaveta Ruban answered with 23 for Turan and Marta Drpa added 20. Having also won the first leg 3-0, Turan move on to the next qualifying round, where the CEV bracket pairs them with Maritza PLOVDIV.
