Sub-heroes of Slovakia gets victory over Turkey after thrilling match

It was a very important match for Slovakia as well as for Turkey, due to both teams loses in Friday’s matches. In the end, Sloviakia won 3-2 (18-25, 16-25, 25-20, 25-21 and 19-17) with marvelous substitutions getting by Stefan Chrtianski. Milan Bencz entered the court in second set, even though, was the man of the match today with 22 points.

It was a very important match for Slovakia as well as for Turkey, due to both teams loses in Friday’s matches. In the end, Sloviakia won 3-2 (18-25, 16-25, 25-20, 25-21 and 19-17) with marvelous substitutions getting by Stefan Chrtianski. Milan Bencz entered the court in second set, even though, was the man of the match today with 22 points.

Match was very closed from the very first points. Both teams performed well by block, and started to serve so strongly. However, despite Martin Nemec good serves and nice block of Emanuel Kohut, Turkish players took two points advantage, forced Stefan Chrtiansky to call for a time out. Emre Batur was a brilliant again, continued his performance from the day before together with few successful actions of Mustafa Koc. It was enough for Slovakia and Emanuele Zanini’s team won 25-18.

In second part Turkey became to be safe very quickly, set the score 6-3. Chrtiansky decided to make double-substitution with Milan Bencz and Juraj Zatko in place of Michal Masny and Martin Nemec. Nevertheless, it did not change anything in game of his team. With Batur’s kills, Slovakia was unable to make any contr-attack, admitting some errors not being forced to them. On second TTO Turkey had 4 points more than their opponent (16-12) and finally made it even bigger in the end, 25-16.

With some effective Chrtiansky and Zatko served, Slovakia was a leader in first TTO by 3points (8-5). They kept supremacy for the rest of this part, not losing their minds with such a big advantage. They were up 16-13, when Turkey woke up and jumped info 18-17, but Slovakia stayed calm again, eventually won 25-20 with respectively substitution of Bencz and some misunderstandings on Turkish side of the court.

Third set was even again, started to be Bencz – Batur clash on the net. Any team could run away from the other, however it was Slovakia who blocked Turkey for the 17-15. After Batur’s failed spike fo 19-16, Zanini asked for a time out for his team. However, it did not change the game of his team and Sloviakia remained the better one with brilliant performances of reserve players like Bencz, Zatko and Matiej Patak. Chrtiansky’s team claimed the victory 25-21.

In tie break Slovakia played well on the beginning, served well again and stopped their opponents on the net. Nevertheless, game was still neck-to-neck. After Patak spike, Slovakia came to 9-8 and then Kemal Kayhan failed on serve pool. Kohut blocked Metin Toy for 13-12, but it was not a crucial moment of this match. Reliable Bencz executed his one spike and then Turkey defended three match balls, when Bencz failed twice, but it was exactly Batur, who wasted two brilliant actions to end this match with 2 points and Slovakia won 19-17.

‘Obviously we are happy with this victory as it remained us still possible to be promoted into the next round. We needed that score to keep our hopes’ reminded Michal Masny, Slovakia’s team captain.  ‘We came back into the match after two lost sets and our substitutions had completely changed our game today, guided my team to successful score. As yesterday, now we also should forget about today’s match, clear our minds, because it is a history and tomorrow we must stand up to the next struggle, trying to do the next step forward.’

„Congratulations for Slovakia. It was very excited match on high-level. After getting 2-0 we lost our control over the match’ explained Ulas Kiyak. ‘Their substitutions brought additional energy to the team. We are very disappointed to lose today, but we will do our best tomorrow to beat the France.’

‘I must agree with my captain. When Stefan [Chrtiansky] did his changes his team started to play with energy, which we did not have. I mean Bencz especially, who was outstanding today. That is the difference’ pointed Zanini. ‘Yesterday we played against Poland by our hearts and today some players were not strong enough to play. I’ve tried to change some of them, but it was not as effective. One ball decided, who won today. We were better in serve and attack, but we eventually lost.’

‘Game was hard for both coaches I think. We started bad and so passive and we couldn’t play effecitively with any element. Becz was our key to this victory’ ensured Chrtiansky. ‘I made a risk with young players entered the court but it turned out as a great move. I am so proud of my team that they did their best today.’

Slovakia absolutely won in  block 17 points to 9 on the Turkey’s side. In Turkey best ones were Toy and Bartur who scored 22 both.