Historic final for Lokomotiv! 🚂 A 3:1 victory over CSKA and a spot in the grand final for the gold medals! 🏆

Plovdiv's Lokomotiv wrote a golden page in its club history after defeating CSKA 3:1 (25:20, 25:17, 29:31, 25:21) in the fifth match of the semifinal playoff and qualified for the first time for a final in the elite under this name! 🖤🤍Historically, this is the first final for "Marek Union-IvKoni," whose successor is "Lokomotiv," in 10 years. Interestingly, in the 2002/03 season, Marek again defeated CSKA and competed for gold against Levski-Sikonko. This is also the first final for the team founded in 1996.

🔹Game 1 started contested until 10:10, after which the "railroaders" imposed their will with attacks by Kristof Horvath and Julien Georgiev. An ace by Ivaylo Damyanov and errors by the "reds" decided the set - 25:20.

🔹 In thesecond game Loko pulled ahead again after 6:6. Georgiev was unstoppable, and Damyanov scored with an ace and powerful counter-attacks. CSKA failed to react - 25:17.

🔹CSKA returned to the match after substitutions by Sasho Popov. Velikov shone with a series of aces, Chavdarov and Nenchev added strong play at the net, and Stankov decided the set with an ace for 31:29! 🔥

🔹 In thefourth set the hosts started with a bang - 9:5, and Julien Georgiev and Valchev continued to trouble the army's defense. CSKA closed the gap to one point at 22:21, but Georgiev's block put an end to the dispute - 25:21 and agrand final for Lokomotiv! 🙌

⭐Player of the match: Julien Georgiev - aces, blocks and power in attack!

📌Heroes:Damyanov with key points through the middle, Valchev with stability on serve and counter-attacks.

📊Top scorers for Lokomotiv:
⭐Julien Georgiev – 19 pts (2 aces), 68% attack – MVP!💥
Todor Valchev – 18 pts (1 ace, 2 blocks)
🔨 Kristof Horvath – 16 pts (2 blocks)
🚧 Ivaylo Damyanov – 10 pts (2 aces, 2 blocks)

📊For CSKA:
💪 Lyuboslav Simeonov – 13 pts
🎯 Nikolay Penchev – 12 pts (1 ace, 3 blocks), 59% positive reception
🚀 Stefan Chavdarov – 11 pts (1 ace, 1 block)