OR Men’s National achieved her second consecutive victory in European Golden Leaguedominating Portugal with 3-1 set In Arta’s closed T9, showing character and racing consequence.
The visitors came in louder into the match and took advantage of the mistakes of the Greek team, taking the first set with 16-25. Portugal led 11-16 and 14-20, with Tsvetitsanin and Pinto leading the attack, by surprise the national.
The reaction, however, did not take long. In the second set, Greece started with energy and led 5-1, but the Portuguese tied at 14-14. Mouhlia gave solutions to the attack, and despite the pressure on the finale (23-23), the Protopsaltis made it 25-23 and 1-1 in the sets.
The third set was equally ambiguous. Portugal led 1-4, but Ethniki responded with a block of Protopsalti and went ahead 8-5. The two teams went hand in hand until 22-22, but Muhlia and a Pinto’s wrong service raised the scales in favor of Greece (25-23, 2-1).
In the fourth set, the Portuguese tried to send the match to Tai Breik, previously with 7-10 and 16-19. But the Greek team was left calm. With critical points from Voulkidis and Nanopoulos, he went ahead with 20-19. The finale was dramatic: At 24-22 Muklias failed to finish the match, but Vaiopoulos with the first year ‘Sealed’ the victory with 25-23.
With this result, Ethniki made it 2/2 in Arta, after the win over Spain in the premiere, and is now preparing for the away games in Latvia and Finland, with goal of qualifying in the final four.
The sets: 3-1 (16-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-23)
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