TTCLM: Düsseldorf and Neu-Ulm on their way to the semi-finals
After Post SV Mühlhausen, Borussia Düsseldorf and TTC Neu-Ulm are also well on their way to the semi-finals of the Champions League (TTCLM). Düsseldorf fought their way to a 3:2 win at KS Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki on Thursday evening; Neu-Ulm had already won 3:0 at Sporting Clube de Portugal the day before.
Borussia Düsseldorf also won its third match in Group A of the Champions League (TTCLM). The 3-2 win in Poland at KS Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki gives the six-time champion a good chance of advancing to the semifinals as group winner. "The door for winning the group and thus entering the semifinals is open," manager Andreas Preuß put through after the match. "But we are not through yet and have to be fully focused again in the second leg. We saw today that Bogoria has a really strong, young and hungry team that can be dangerous to us at any time."
Timo Boll felt the effects in the opening singles: The world number twelve surprisingly lost 1:3 (7:11, 11:8, 10:12, 5:11) against Milosz Redzimski. And even after that, Düsseldorf had anything but an easy game. Anton Källberg equalized with a 3:0 (11:6, 11:9, 11:5) against Michal Gawlas, but Dang Qiu lost 1:3 (7:11, 11:3, 10:12, 9:11) against ex-Borussian Panagiotis Gionis, so that the TTBL record champion was trailing 1:2. Again Källberg provided the equalizer with a 3:1 (11:8, 11:3, 9:11, 11:5) against Redzimski, before Boll provided a sigh of relief for Düsseldorf with a 3:0 (11:7, 11:6, 11:6). "We have a lot to thank Anton for today," said coach Danny Heister. "He withstood the pressure of being behind twice and kept us in the match. That was a very commanding performance."
Neu-Ulm wins 3:1 in Portugal
TTC Neu-Ulm already took a big step towards the semifinals on Wednesday evening. After the 3:1 against KS Dekorglass Dzialdowo, the Swabians managed another success with the 3:0 at Sporting Clube de Portugal, through which the team remains unbeaten in the TTCLM. The return match against the Portuguese will take place next Sunday, December 4. The last match for Neu-Ulm in Group C will be on December 13 in Dzialdowo.
In Lisbon on Wednesday, the TTC conceded only one set. Dimitrij Ovtcharov opened the clear victory with a 3:1 (11:9, 3:11, 11:5, 11:8) against Diogo Carvalho, then his teammates rushed from point to point. Truls Moregard won 3:0 (11:5, 11:6, 11:8) against Bode Abiodum, Yaroslav Zmudenko 3:0 (12:10, 11:2, 11:6) against Diogo Chen. "It was a very good match and we are very happy with the victory," Moregard told ETTU afterwards, promising, "We will show this level in the upcoming matches. Our goal is to win the Champions League title."
The German matches in overview
Group A KS Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki – Borussia Düsseldorf 2:3
Milosz Redzimski – Timo Boll 3:1 (11:7, 8:11, 12:10, 11:5)
Michal Gawlas – Anton Källberg 0:3 (6:11, 9:11, 5:11)
Panagiotis Gionis – Dang Qiu 3:1 (11:7, 3:11, 12:10, 11:9)
Milosz Redzimski – Anton Källberg 1:3 (8:11, 3:11, 11:9, 5:11)
Michal Gawlas – Timo Boll 0:3 (7:11, 6:11, 6:11)
Group C Sporting Clube de Portugal – TTC Neu-Ulm 0:3
Diogo Carvalho – Dimitrij Ovtcharov 1:3 (9:11, 11:3, 5:11, 8:11)
Bode Abiodum – Truls Moregardh 0:3 (5:11, 6:11, 8:11)
Diogo Chen – Yaroslav Zmudenko 0:3 (10:12, 2:11, 6:11)