Al-Arabi
Al-Arabi only made 8 unforced errors during the match compared to 26 by Zamalek. The winners also held the advantage in blocks (8-6) and in service winners (7-5).
Christian Pampel topped the local club with 17 points, all via spikes. Matti Oivanen contributed 11 points, including three blocks and three aces, and Mohamed Ibrahim added nine. Zamalek’s Reda Haikal was the only bright point of the defeated side with 15 points, including 2 blocks and three aces.
Al-Arabi Doha led 8-7 in the first set thanks mainly to the errors of the opponent. They opened a four-point lead 16-12 at the second TTO, relying on the solid spikes of Christian Pampel. One block by Ribeiro Renan followed by an ace from Ibrahim expanded the gap to seven points at 23-16. Al Arabi won the set 25-19 despite the good spiking from Zamalek’s Reda Haikal and Mohamed Badawy.
Spikes by Al Bakhet and Pampel around the kill of Zamalek’s Seif Elnasr gave Al Arabi an 8-6 lead in the second set. Pampel continued red-hot forcing a time-out at 9-6. Al Arabi was in front by five points at 16-11 at the second technical stop. With the score 19-13 Zamalek’s coach called a time-out. The course of the set continued the same as Al Arabi ended prevailing by a nine-point difference at 25-16 with the block of Matti Ovainen closing the actions.
Two aces by Haikal put Zamalek in front 8-5 in the third set. The Egyptian club let the advantage to escape with several sloppy plays and Pampel gave Al Arabi the lead at 11-10 with another big hit. The Doha club opened the gap to 16-13 at the second TTO. The big Ibrahim was running in high gear at the end for Al Arabi. Pampel landed one more for match point at 24-19 and the match finished 25-20 with the block by Oivanen.
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