Zonzamas Plus Car Lanzarote came close to adding points against Costa del Sol Málaga, falling by 20-22 at the San Bartolomé Municipal Pavilion in a match corresponding to matchday 22 of the Liga Guerreras Iberdrola. The Lanzarote team, very solid in defense for much of the match, suffered from its lack of offensive accuracy in key moments, although it reacted with character in the final stretch to put one of the strong teams in the category in trouble.
The match started with a very intense Zonzamas in defense and firm under the posts, although cold in attack. It wasn't until the fifth minute when the scoreboard opened with a counterattack culminated by Isabelle Medeiros for the Malaga team (0-1). Marie Louis responded from seven meters and shortly after Nahomi Márquez made it 3-1 nearing the tenth minute, taking advantage of the good defensive work of the locals.
Costa del Sol Málaga reacted quickly and balanced the match, taking advantage of several meritorious actions by Mercedes Castellanos, very secure under the posts. Zonzamas began to struggle to find the goal and the visitors took the initiative (3-6, min. 16), which forced Juan José Rivera to request a timeout to reorganize his team.
The potato team managed to partially recover and kept the score tight. Luna Voncina scored from the pivot the 6-7 in the 22nd minute, but Málaga stretched the difference again in the final minutes of the first half. After a timeout requested by the visitors with twenty seconds remaining, the match went to halftime with 7-10.
After the resumption, Costa del Sol Málaga gave a blow of authority and opened a gap in the scoreboard. In the 40th minute the electronic already reflected 9-14, punishing Zonzamas' offensive problems. The losses and the lack of continuity in attack allowed the Andalusian team to extend the income to 10-17 in the 45th minute.
Even so, Zonzamas did not give up. The match also left Yasmin Fernandes' first goal in Liga Guerreras Iberdrola, while the locals began to cut differences in the final minutes. A visitor timeout in the 54th minute came with 14-19, but the "batateras" kept believing. Marie Louis again brought hers closer and Gleinys Reyes signed the 16-19 in the 56th minute that ignited the hope of a comeback.
In the final stretch, Zonzamas pressed with intensity, driven by a very incisive Ingrid Roger in attack. The locals managed to reduce distances and put pressure on the Malaga team, but time played against them and Costa del Sol Málaga knew how to manage their advantage to close the match with the definitive 20-22. Despite the defeat, Zonzamas once again demonstrated character and capacity for reaction against one of the most powerful teams in the competition.
