El Zonzamas Plus Car Lanzarote came close to causing an upset on their visit to BM Elche, second in the Liga Guerreras Iberdrola standings, but ultimately fell 31-28 at the Pabellón Esperanza Lag. The "batateras" put in a high-quality first half, even leading the score at various points, and kept their chances alive until the final minutes, although the home team's push and physical fatigue ultimately decided the match.
The Lanzarote team came out determined to compete and quickly found offensive solutions. Gleinys Reyes opened the scoring from the seven-meter line, and Marilia Correia, particularly effective in the early stages, extended the lead to 0-3 in the 4th minute. El Zonzamas opted for a seven-player attack from the start, a tactic that allowed them to find space and maintain the initiative.
Elche took time to get on the scoreboard, but soon began to show why they are one of the strongest teams in the competition. Goals from wingers Vladu and Oppedal brought the score level, and by the 10th minute, the home team was leading 6-5. El Zonzamas was struggling to close down spaces through the center of their defense, and with the score at 11-9 in the 15th minute, Sergio Hernández called a timeout to reorganize the team.
The "batateras'" reaction was swift. The team improved their defensive performance and regained continuity in attack. Claudia Kaulback brought the Lanzarote team closer at 13-12, and shortly after, Ingrid Roger leveled the score at 14 in the 23rd minute. The tie remained until, at 15-15, Elche called a timeout. However, El Zonzamas was going through their best spell and took the lead again with another goal from Ingrid (15-16), in the 28th minute. The half ended with a tight score of 17-16.
The second half began with alternating play and an exchange of goals that maintained the uncertainty. The score was tied at 18 in the 34th minute, and Marilia reappeared to put El Zonzamas ahead 18-20. El Zonzamas was showing a good defensive performance, especially in their recovery, but Elche began to increase the speed of their transitions. The home team took advantage of this change in rhythm to regain the lead and go ahead with a goal from Belén Rodríguez in the 42nd minute (23-22).
With the score at 24-22, Sergio Hernández stopped the game again to try to recompose the defense. The "batateras" sought to regain control, but they encountered Nicole Morales, who began to prove decisive in goal and stopped several attempts to get closer. In the 49th minute, with the score at 27-24, the coach from Lanzarote used his third timeout and opted for a 5:1 defense to try to change the course of the match.
Zonzamas did not give up and managed to stay within two goals, at 28-26 in the 53rd minute, at which point Elche requested a timeout. The interruption broke the rhythm of the game and the match entered a more irregular phase, in which the players from Lanzarote found greater difficulty in maintaining continuity. As the minutes passed, fatigue began to take its toll and Elche took advantage of the visitors' reduced effectiveness to extend their lead.
The final score of 31-28 does not fully reflect the equality of a match in which Zonzamas competed for many minutes against one of the most powerful teams in the league. The "batateras" leave Elche without points, but with periods of good play and arguments to continue growing in an increasingly demanding competition.
TECHNICAL SHEET
BM Elche (31): Jimena Laguna (4), Paula Agulló (1), Lisa Oppendal (1), Erika Vladu (2), Patricia Méndez, Lucía Calleja (1), Nicole Morales, Zaira Benítez, Belén Rodríguez (5), Esther Martín-Buro (1), Teresa Antón, Paola Bernabé (1), Vanessa Rubio, Laura Ferrer (2), Savina Bergara (6) and Carmen Claudino (7).
Coach: Alberto Zabalegui.
Zonzamas Plus Car Lanzarote (28): Ingrid Roger (5), Thalyta Cardoso, Gleinys Reyes (9), Maria Monllor (2), Cecilia Colmenero, Alicia Robles, Luna Vončina, Leire González, Martha Padrón, Paola Santos, Claudia Kaulback (2), Mbongo Masseu, Marilia Correia (9), Zaliata Mlamali (1) and Malena Guerisoli.
Coach: Sergio Hernández.
Refereeing: Match directed by María Inés Paolantoni and Mariana García. Lisa Oppendal, Zaira Benítez and Paola Bernabé were excluded for BM Elche, and Thalyta Cardoso for Zonzamas Plus Car Lanzarote.
Incidents: Match played at the Pabellón Esperanza Lag, corresponding to the ninth round of the Liga Guerreras Iberdrola.
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