PROSECCO DOC IMOCO CONEGLIANO-OSASCO SAO CRISTOVAO SAUDE 3-1
(21-25| 25-23| 25-16| 25-16)
Prosecco DOC Imoco Conegliano: Gabi 18, Zhu 13, Scognamillo, Ewert ne, Lubian 11, De Gennaro, Haak 14, Munarini ne, Wolosz 3, Adigwe, Daalderop, Chirichella 10, Fahr ne, Sillah ne. Coach Santarelli
Osasco Sao Cristovao Saude: Sophia, Mayhara 3, Maiara 4, Maira 1, Pereira Danielski 1, Cugno 14, J. Gray 2, Valquiria 3, Larissa 5, Geovana ne, Marina, C. Brait, Rebeca 1, Baird 16. Coach De Moura
Referees: Vera (PER) and Casado (ARG)
Attendance: about 2000
Set length: 29′ – 31′ – 26′ – 26′
Notes: service errors Co 17, Os 14; aces 1-7, blocks 8-3
Prosecco DOC Imoco Volley, in its fifth participation in the Club World Cup, takes the fifth access to the final after a heated confrontation with the hosts of Osasco who in the heat of São Paulo made the Panthers sweat in the first two sets and then gave in to the Venetian team that imposed itself at the distance with a great team performance (5 in double figures!). Tomorrow the all-Italian final with Scandicci, a re-edition of the last act of the Champions League.
THE REPORT
Time for the world semi-finals for Prosecco DOC Imoco Conegliano, who at the Mercado Livre Arena in São Paulo face Osasco Sao Cristovao Saude, the host team supported by the very hot carioca torch. The Brazilians overcame Pool A in second place behind Savino del Bene Scandicci, the Panthers are looking for the fifth intercontinental final in their history after an immaculate journey in the group.
Coach Daniele Santarelli does not change his sextet compared to Thursday’s match against Dentil Praia confirming Wolosz in the direction, opposite Bella Haak, Gabi and Zhu spikers, Lubian and Chirichella central, Moki De Gennaro is the libero. For Osasco, coach Luizomar De Moura chooses Gray, Maiara, Larissa, Cugno, Baird, Mayhara, libero Brait.
A couple of shots by Wolosz and Zhu give the first real advantage to the Panthers at the start, but the set is complicated, Osasco is dragged by its crowd and does not concede easily (13-11). The heat and humidity are not friends of the Panthers who are prey to many errors (11 in total in the set!), Gabi and Chirichella momentarily grab parity in the central phase of the set, Daalderop enters the service and Scognamillo in the second line, but the Brazilians with aces and taking advantage of the yellow-blue smudges take the lead. Despite the ups and downs Haak and Zhu shorten, but Osasco takes the lead in the score and manages to close by repelling the comeback of the Panthers (21-25). The home sports hall explodes
Panthers reaction after the first points of the second set, Haak blocks for 9-7, but the Argentine Cugno and her teammates respond well. It takes another time-out by coach Santarelli to get the yellow-blues back on track, Lubian blocks, then Zhu shortens it to -1 at 18-17 (5 points in the set for the Chinese star). The bench moves, Daalderop and Adigwe enter to send the opponent’s reception into a tailspin (22-20), but there is still a chase to be had. Slowly the Prosecco DOC Imoco extinguishes the ardor of the Brazilians, the defense with De Gennaro and Gabi shows the way, then Haak finds a great corner (21-23), it takes a block by Cristina Chirichella to mark the parity at 23: The road is cleared, it’s up to the maliciousness of the Gabi house the grand final: 23-25 and it’s 1-1 with a providential 7-1 partial that equalizes the account and resolves a situation that could have become complicated. Gabi after a first set takes the stage, he will close as top scorer with 18 points, 52% in attack and 1 block.
The third set opens with a block-first half combo for Marina Lubian (great performance in the end she will close with 11 points, 67% in attack and 3 blocks), then an ace by Gabi and it starts at 0-4. Captain Wolosz has taken the measure at the home wall, Asia draws a second point (3-7), while there is already room for Scognamillo in the second line. The yellow-blue game now flows smoothly (5-10), then Gabi also makes himself felt with the block (18-14). It is still the home star (8 points also in the third set) to make the ball sing from seat 4 after a perfect defense by Nika Daalderop (15-23), then Bella Haak (14 points at the end) closes the accounts with authority for the net 25-16 that sends Conegliano ahead.
Prosecco DOC Imoco after the thrills at the start now has the ball in its hands and does not miss it: Gabi rises more and more in the chair as he goes, blocks for 8-5, Haak continues the wave with the touch of 11-5. Zhu (13 points) also places shots in bursts, with the collaboration of Chirichella in fast (10 points, 82%! in attack) and an essential Isabelle Haak make the bullet travel (17-8). It is a yellow-blue monologue that continues until victory:
Eyes are already on tomorrow’s final, kick-off at 20.30: the Panthers as predicted meet Savino del Bene Scandicci, another Italian derby in the international field, it will be a remake of the last CEV Champions League final, won by the yellow-blues.
The Tuscans are debutants in the event, 41 previous meetings between the two teams, on 36 occasions Prosecco DOC has prevailed, 5 successes in Scandicci.
The match will be broadcast live on DAZN and Volleyballwolrd.tv (by subscription), live updates and post-match interviews will be available on Imoco Volley’s social profiles. Following the Panthers at the Mercado Livre Arena there will be a group of yellow and blue fans, present in all the matches of the competition in São Paulo.
PHOTOGALLERY AND POST-MATCH INTERVIEWS ON IMOCO VOLLEY’S SOCIAL PROFILES
(photo Vettori and Volleyballworld.com)