Beaten 1-3 by Lublin during the 1/8 final second leg of the Challenge Cup, TLM was therefore eliminated from the European Cup after its defeat in the first leg in Poland. The Tourquennoise volleyball players however put the Polish club in difficulty during two sets. But world star Wilfredo Leon made the difference in front of the fiery telemist.
It was a real event Tuesday evening at the regional covered velodrome in Roubaix. The best player in the world (with Earvin N’Gapeth), Wilfredo Leonwas present for a match of the CEV Challenge Cup, the 3rd European Cup. TLM Volley faced le Bogdanka Luk Lublin in the second leg of the 1/8 finals. Beaten 3-1 in the first leg in Poland, the Northerners therefore had no margin of error to hope to qualify. We either had to win 3-0. Or 3-1 to decide with the golden set. Not easy against a team that plays in the best championship in the world.
After a thunderous start to the match, the Tourquennois will suffer the power of Lublin in the first round. The Poles quickly break away (8-13), under the leadership of Leon, but also of McCarthy et Grozdanov. The Polish-Cuban hits balls at almost 130 km/h! The TLM will never manage to come back to the score, despite some effective actions at the net. Lublin therefore won this first set 16-25 in 24 minutes, from the first set point. Tourcoing has already eaten its only joker.
Hope during two sets
The Northerners no longer have a choice. They throw all their strength into the battle and start this 2nd round well by leading 9-6. The match is spectacular, lively. And the TLM maintains its lead, before seeing Lublin pick up 19-19, under the onslaught of Wilfredo Leon. But with Pablo KoukartsevTourcoing resists. The two teams go blow for blow. The video validates an important point for TLM 24-21. Requested twice more, the VAR confirms the 2nd set point won by Koukartsev on Leon’s serve. Tourcoing won the round 25-22 in 31 minutes, in a huge atmosphere.
Tourcoing continues this euphoric momentum in the 3rd round. The Poles seem to be starting to doubt. They do indeed commit direct errors, especially when serving. The TLM leads 10-6 after an ace of Simon Roehrig. Then 13-7 after a point still checked by the VAR.
But Lublin tightens his block and returns to the score 15-15, on a series serving Wilfredo Leon. Before taking off with more speed. Not disturbed by the cauldron atmosphere of the Stab, the Poles won this 3rd set 22-25 in 34 minutes, after a service outside Amir Tizi-Oualou. They thus ensure qualification for the 1/4 finals.
A no-stakes end to the match
The two teams will therefore play for honor. Dorian Rougeyron then brings in its young French people to complete this European shock, and give them experience. The intensity drops a notch given the lack of stakes. Lublin also lets its star rest on the bench.
Unsurprisingly, Lublin won this last round (19-25) in 24 minutes, and the match 1-3. The European adventure ends there for the TLM. The Tourquennois will now focus on the championship and the Coupe de France. With already an appointment during the holidays. It will be “boxing day” on Sunday December 29 against Arago de Sète (5 p.m.), still at Stab de Roubaix.
The match sheet
Tourcoing LM Volley – Bogdanka Luk Lublin : 1-3 (16-25, 25-22, 21-25, 19-25)
Return match of the 1/8th finals of the CEV Challenge Cup. Roubaix Stab Velodrome. 2,345 spectators.
Arbitres: Ilya Penkov (Bulgaria), Josip Hristov (Montenegro)
TLM Volley: Louchart, Loubeyre (libero), Tizi-Oualou (2 points), Aru (1), Lavigne (5), Luengas (8), Dosso (3), Roehrig (cap, 10), Hutcheson (3), Koukartsev ( 12), Martinez Franchi (6), Parkinson (4). Coach: Dorian Rougeyron.
BL Lublin : Nowakowski (4 points), Komenda (cap, 1), Sawicki (6), Wachnik (3), Leon (21), Slotarski, Grozdanov (6), Czyrek (libéro), Hoss (libéro), Tuinsstra (7) , McCarthy (6), Sasak (15). Coach: Massimo Botti.
The reactions
Dorian Rougeyron, TLM coach. « Lublin is stronger, that’s for sure. But we are obviously a little frustrated because we lead 15-11 in the 3rd set. It’s learning at a very high level, when you have one of the best players in the world, and one of the best servers opposite you. »
Simon Roehrig, captain of the TLM. « It’s frustrating because you shouldn’t give them sticks to get beaten up. We will learn, that’s for sure. And this will help us for the championship and the Coupe de France. Because in this kind of intensity, we showed that we played very well at many moments. »
Find the video interviews with Dorian Rougeyron and Simon Roehrig on You Tube/SPORTS-VIDEOS-NORD.
