The ninth matchday of the Guerreras Iberdrola League had a cruel ending for CICAR Lanzarote Ciudad de Arrecife, falling by one goal difference against Grafometal Sporting La Rioja. The San José Obrero women's team, especially in the second half, did more than enough to add the victory against the Riojan team, but the lack of success in attack came in the final stretch of the match and to this was added the success of the goalkeeper Geandra Rodrigues in the final minutes.
After some opening minutes of exchanged goals, Grafometal Sporting La Rioja managed a three-goal lead, which was quickly neutralized by goals from Andrea Boner (2) and Ana Radovic (5-5). CICAR Lanzarote Ciudad de Arrecife was not finding itself comfortable on the court, and the Riojan team once again moved three goals ahead, forcing Alfredo Rodríguez to call the first timeout (6-9).
CICAR Lanzarote Ciudad de Arrecife was closing in again on the scoreboard, after Gema Trujillo scored a seven-meter throw and Celia López scored a goal (8-9). The final minutes of the first half were full of mistakes for the local team, losing balls in attack very easily and allowing the opponent to go to halftime with a four-goal advantage. Sarai Samartín and Mina Novocic scored the last two goals for the Rioja team to make it 8 to 12.
The second half began in the worst possible way for the interests of CICAR Lanzarote Ciudad de Arrecife, with Andrea Loscos and Jude Loidi scoring to put the difference at six goals (8-14). The reaction of the local team was immediate, achieving a 3-0 partial score to get back into the fight for the match (11-14).
The defensive work of the CICAR Lanzarote Ciudad de Arrecife was fundamental in this second half, stopping each of the attacks of the Grafometal Sporting La Rioja. Gema Trujillo from the left wing scored to establish 14 to 16, forcing Luis Miguel Ascorbe to request a time-out.
Following instructions from the bench, San José Obrero's game continued to grow, achieving a 3-0 run with goals from Alba Tort, Celia López, and Leticia Cobo, putting the local team ahead for the first time on the scoreboard (17-16). CICAR Lanzarote Ciudad de Arrecife managed to have a two-goal advantage with ten minutes remaining, after Andrea Boner scored a seven-meter throw (19-17).
The attacking problems for CICAR Lanzarote Ciudad de Arrecife came in the final minutes of the match, coupled with some highly disputed decisions by the referees that harmed the local team. Geandra Rodrigues stood strong in goal, stopping two seven-meter throws from Andrea Boner and Gema Trujillo, and saving several clear shots from six meters.
Sarai Samartín scored in the last attacking play for Grafometal Sporting La Rioja, giving her team the victory by a tight 20 to 21. A cruel final outcome for CICAR Lanzarote Ciudad de Arrecife, seeing how a match slipped away from them again, and on this occasion, after doing more than enough to at least score a point.Technical Details
CICAR Lanzarote Ciudad de Arrecife (20): Irene Sánchez, Ana Radovic (5), Rocio Squizziato, Andrea Boner (7), Gema Trujillo (2), Thais Fermo and Marilia Correia (1) -starting team- Ana Marín, Melania Cabrera, Leticia Cobo (1), Mornesa Tenda, Celia López (3), Carla Rivas, Alba Tort (1). Coach: Alfredo Rodríguez
Grafometal Sporting La Rioja (21): Gendra Rodrigues, Lorena Pérez (1), Fernanda Insfran (3), Paula Milagros (1), Garoa Sarrionandia-Ibarra (3), Mina Novocic (1) and Andrea Loscos (3) -starting team- Maitane Larrayoz, Lucía Chumillas (1), Blanca Benítez (2), Paula Morales, Sofía Clara, Sarai Samartín (2), Jude Loidi (3), Liza Somogyi (1) and Karia Sidibe (1). Coach: Luis Miguel Ascorbe
Partial scores every 5 minutes: 2-3, 4-5, 5-7, 7-9, 8-10, 8-12 (halftime) 11-14, 13-16, 16-16, 18-17, 20-20, 20-21 (final)
Referees: Álvaro López Novoa and Roberto Argiz Varela. They excluded Marilia Correia (2) and Alba Tort (1) from CICAR Lanzarote Ciudad de Arrecife, and Lucía Chumillas (1) and Lorena Pérez (1) from Grafometal Sporting La Rioja.
Incidents: Titerroy Municipal Pavilion, about 250 spectators. Match corresponding to the ninth round of the Guerreras Iberdrola League.
