Poland-Finland
The Polish team got to the front after quite a good start and great performance by middle-blocker Bartlomiej Krulicki (4:3). Also Lukasz Lapszynski and Maciej Muzaj kept on scoring successful attacks and the first technical-time out showed the provisional supremacy of the home side (8:5). Boosted by the support of their fans, the Finns stormed back and effective blocks by Niklas Seppänen helped Finland come closer in the score. What’s more, the Finnish offense was very strong. The game was really close (13:13, 15:15) and finally after a block on Muzaj Finland got the lead (18:17). Even a great performance by Jan Nowakowski could not change the situation in favor of the team in white and red jerseys. By the end of the first set, the Polish team saved two set balls (24:20, 24:21), but it was not enough to win. Tommi Siirilä was the one who finished this part of the game via a really spectacular attack from the right wing.
The next set was a great exhibition of Poland’s fighting spirit. The Poles were focused on every ball and Nowakowski’s game was close to perfection. He kept on scoring from the middle of the net (5:3) and Poland took fast advantage of that. Together with Muzaj’s attacks Poland worked out a 4-points lead (11:7). Finland seemed a bit lost and Poland made use of that finishing each possible occasion to get a point (17:14, 19:15 and 22:16), before it logically ended in a 25-20 for the home team.
While having 1:1 in sets, the Polish team seemed to believe in their chances and showed that via Bartlomiej Krulicki’s attacks from the middle. That contributed to their advantage that was built slowly but consequently. Thanks to Jan Nowakowski and Maciej Muzaj actions, Poland moved up 17:13; the Polish game was at the same time spectacular and filled with silly mistakes. Luckily for the Poles, Maciej Muzaj finished the set sealing the final 25-20 for the provisional 2:1.
The fourth set showed that Finland was better in keeping calm and the guests lead at the beginning 6:4 with Elviss Krastins scoring constantly. Poland tried hard to keep it up and after reaching the score of 15:13 they maintained that margin up to the end of the match to cash their first win of the tournament to the delight of some 750 spectators.
