14/11/2019 14:55
Erzeni win first-ever Albanian derby in European Cups
CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup 2020 - Men
Tirana, Albania, November 14, 2019. There was a historic Albanian derby on Wednesday night in the second round of the CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup 2020 – Men played in Tirana featuring Partizani TIRANA and Erzeni SHIJAK. It was the first European Cup match featuring two Albanian teams in Volleyball history. The team from Shijak, winners of the Albanian Cup last season, deserved to secure a 3-0 victory, thus taking a huge step towards qualifying for the next round. The return match will be taking place in two weeks.
Although observers predicted a much closer affair, Erzeni showed their supremacy from the start to the end of the match. The two teams had made some changes to their roster during the summer transfer season, but Partizani – who are the reigning national champions – did not deliver what fans expected of them. Consequently, Erzeni deserved the victory, as they controlled the game in each of the three sets (25-20, 25-15, 25-20), doing so especially in attack.
Many spectators – some 450 – attended the match played at Feti Borova sports hall and they never stopped showing support for their favourite team. Asmend Kula of Erzeni delivered the standout performance of the night, scoring 21 points.
This was already the third match between the two teams this season, with Partizani triumphing in the Federation’s Cup, while Erzeni emerged victorious from a fixture scheduled for Round 2 of the national league.
The return match will determine the winners of this historic derby, who will play against Allianz Powervolley MILANO of Italy in the 16th Finals.
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