Allianz Milano has successfully advanced to the CEV Challenge Cup final after securing a dominant 3-1 victory over Altekma SK Izmir in the semifinal second leg. The crucial match unfolded at the Atatürk Voleybol Salonu, where the Italian side showcased their determination.
Milano’s path to the final was effectively sealed by winning the initial two sets with scores of 25-21 and 25-23, establishing a strong lead in the tie. Although the Turkish team, Altekma, demonstrated resilience by claiming the third set 25-16, largely due to impressive contributions from Erhan Hamarat and Ibrahim Lawani, Allianz Milano quickly regained their composure. The fourth set was a closely fought battle, extending beyond the standard 25 points, but the Italian squad held their nerve to clinch it 28-26, sealing both the set and the match.
For Allianz Milano, Veikka Lindqvist was the standout performer, leading all scorers with an impressive 16 points. Tommaso Ichino also made a valuable contribution with nine points. On Altekma’s side, Erhan Hamarat was their top scorer with 14 points, closely followed by Ibrahim Lawani who added 12 points.
Allianz Milano is now set to face Lindemans Aalst in the highly anticipated championship final. The first leg of the final will take place on March 25 in Belgium, with the decisive return match scheduled for April 1 in Milan.