Denmark made home fans happy
After 1-0 for Denmark, Belarus turned it up and got the 2-1 lead. The momentum, the rhythm, everything was at Belarus’ side but Denmark somehow found their way back and won this amazing match by 3-2. Ditlevsen was fantastic with 20 points for the winning squad, while Antanovich had 17 for Belarus.
There was no doubt that the game was a make-or-break mission for the Danes. The winner of the match would proceed to the Playoffs in Aarhus and the tension was printed in the eyes of the Danish and Belarusian players. The first set waved back and forth with Belarus having the upper hand (8-6) in the beginning, but Denmark fighting their way back taking a 16-15 lead at the second technical time-out. Denmark did what they did not manage in yesterday’s match against Belgium at the score stood at 24-21. Yesterday Denmark could not convert this lead into a set win, but today the Danes were ice cold and closed the set at the very first opportunity 25-21.
Behind 3-6 in the second set Danish head coach Sturm took a needed time-out, trying to change the set around, but no real luck for the score stood at 5-8 at the technical time-out. Another Danish time-out at 5-12 did not do the trick, as Belarus had the clear upper hand (16-8) and hammered the set home 25-17. The third set was a great display of how important a role the mental strength plays in Volleyball. Belarus controlled the beginning of the third set increasing the lead from 8-6 to 13-8, before Denmark got the right mentality back and made it 12-15 and Belarusian mentor Victor Sidelnikov called a time-out. Denmark fought and fought and levelled the set at 19-19. Three Belarusian set points at 24-21, but only at 24-23 they converted it to the set win (25-23).
A thriller writer could not have written a better script for this match. Denmark got back on track in the fourth set leading 8-7 at the first technical time-out and 16-13 at the second. A crucial strong block by Aske Mørkeberg Sørensen gave Denmark a 21-19 lead and coach Sidelnikov called a time-out at 22-19. But Denmark was unshakeable and closed the set 25-20.
Tiebreak time – what else in this dramatic match. At 7-4 to Denmark, Sidelnikov called a time-out, which gave Belarus momentum as they levelled the set 7-7. Denmark refused to go behind and moved up 9-7, but all even again at 9-9. From here Denmark was carried away with immense help from the home crowd closing the tiebreak 15-11 and the match 3-2.
Read our coverage page at European Championship 2013 M.
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