In a stadium with a growing number of spectators this afternoon the first semi-final in the men’s tournament started at 15.00 hrs. The Spanish team Herrera/Gavia combated the Norwegians Mol, A. /Sørum, C.. The Norwegians took the lead as from the beginning of the match and did not give up during the whole match. With a victory of 2-0 this evening they may apply themselves in the final match.
In particular for the Spanish team it is clear that they need to get into the match: several times the service is wrong and balls are hit out in an unpunctual manner. The Young Norwegian team seem to encounter less hassle; they play a steady game and know how to build up an advance of several point in the beginning of the first set. Mol notes several Block points n his name, but also Sørum scores well with his attacks. The Norwegians reach an advance of 11-6, a reason for the Spanish team to take a time-out. For Spain the time-out has a good outcome: slowly, slowly they come closer. The side-out runs better, but the service is still a problem. However, the Norwegians start to make small mistakes as well, due to which the excitement comes back in the set. After 2 missed set points by the Norwegians the score is 20-19 and Mol, A. /Sørum, C. decide to take a time-out. In this time-out the Young men find their rest again and immediately thereafter they finish the set with 21-19 for the Norwegians.
The first bal of set two is again a mistaken service, this time by Herrera. The Spanish seem not to have found their proper play yet. The Norwegians, however, continue their game where they were before: hard attacks varied with smart placed balls, resulting in an advance. Early in the set (2-6) the Spanish take a time-out. The time-out does not bring the wished result: with a killing Block and a smart second hit Mol enlarges the advance for the Norwegians even bigger. The Spanish are put under high pressure and reach, just like the first set, an arrear: 11-6. At that moment the Spanish seem to make a turn: they play and serve better. They appeared to find the weak points of the Norwegians, e.g. several times there is a score by a block. The moment that Herrera/Gavira are only two points behind (11-13) Mol, A. /Sørum, C. take a time-out. It becomes a real fight between the two teams with still a small advance for the Norwegian team. The Norwegians show that the have come here with only one aim: the place in the final. They screw up the presser and the Spanish again make more mistakes. The Norwegian team again get a broader advance and the second match point is effective: the Norwegians win the second set with 21-16 and will fight tonight for gold.