ISTANBUL - The final day of the European Cup for clubs in Istanbul was launched with the first major sensation. The two-time European cup holder, the Turkish team Bahcelievler, which plays for its own audience, was game, was eliminated in the semifinals by the French team of Andernos (5-3).
Two other teams play in the second semi-final: the Dutch team Dallinga/AEJ against FC Porto.
The Turkish stands will be less crowded for the final match at 16.00 in the afternoon after the two times European champions lost their title. Bahcelievler, with Tayfun Tasdemir, Lütfi Cenet, Murat Naci Coklu and Adnan Yüksel, looked already vulnerable in the last group match against BK Gröndal. They had to put up another big fight on the early Sunday morning against Andernos, but were knocked down at the tables three and four.
The Turks had only one winner in their four matches: Tayfun Tasdemir defeated Filippos Kasidokostas in the final part of the match 40-33 in 23 innings. Before this match, Jérôme Barbeillon, best player in the French team so far, showed himself sovereign with a win against Murat Naci Coklu (40-26 in 22).
Roland Forthomme was facing a hopeless backlog against Lütfi Cenet (21-5), but then flaunted with a fabulous comeback. The Belgian passed the finish line even as first at 40-35, but Cenet made five in the equalizer for 40-40.
The decision then was in the hands of the old warrior Francis Connesson, the veteran who had a promising start against Adnan Yüksel (20-10, 30-15). In the final stage, when the tension was on, Connesson lost his way. But he couldn't be threatened by Adnan Yüksel, nota bene the best player of the whole field in the group stage: 40-31 in 36.
Andernos reached the final for the second time in its history. The first time was in 2004, when the team was defeated by Crystal Kelly in Egmond aan Zee. Only Roland Forthomme and Francis Connesson of the current team played for the team in that year.
Roland Forthomme and the teamcaptain Bernard Baudoin.
Jérôme Barbeillon, star player in the teams, in a deep focus during his match against Coklu