Zonzamas Plus Car Lanzarote came close to the feat at the Florentino Ibáñez Pavilion, but ended up falling by the minimum (24-23) against Elda Prestigio in the Star Match of the day, broadcast by Teledeporte. It was a match of maximum intensity in which Juanmi Pérez's team competed head to head, but ended up paying for the high number of losses and the 12 penalty shots against them.
The match started with constant alternatives. Brenda Roger opened the scoring and, shortly after, a penalty by Gleinys Reyes put Zonzamas ahead (2-3). Goalkeeper Valentina Menucci shone from the start, stopping up to two shots from seven meters in the first fifteen minutes, which allowed the Lanzarote team to stay in the exchange. However, nerves and ball losses began to appear, while Elda accumulated shots. The Alicante team achieved its first maximum advantage (10-8), although the visitors did not give up: with a counterattack by Marie Louis and a goal by Paula García, Zonzamas signed the tie at 12 with which they reached the break.
The second half started badly for the Canary Islanders, with several consecutive losses that the locals took advantage of to go three up (17-14). The exclusion of Nahomi Márquez shortly after complicated the situation further, although the team knew how to react after a time-out. With goals from Paula Fernández and Márquez herself, the Lanzarote team cut the distance to 17-16, and with an inspired Menucci, who already had eight saves, they got back into the game.
In the final stretch, Zonzamas never gave up. Despite the exclusion of Marie Louis - the team's top scorer with five goals - the visitors maintained options thanks to the collective work and Alicia Robles' save on a new penalty. With four minutes to play and two goals down, the island bench called a time-out and the team responded: Lorena Zarco made it 22-21 and Reyes returned the tie in the 58th minute.
The ending was cruel. A penalty transformed by Elda returned the local advantage, although Louis responded from seven meters to equalize again. With time up, the referees signaled a new seven-meter throw in favor of Elda. Malena Vallés, the great protagonist of the match with 10 goals, did not fail and sealed the Alicante victory by 24-23.
Zonzamas leaves Elda with the feeling of having competed head to head against a demanding rival and with the certainty that, by correcting the losses, the results will come.
TECHNICAL SHEET
Elda Prestigio (24): Meriem Ezbida, Lucía García, Lora Sarandeva (1), Virginia Fernández Robles (1), Sol Azcune (1), Agda Rafaella Gonçalvez (3), Malena Vallés (10), Emiliana Heilmann (2 min), Julia Terrado (1), Elena Cuadrado (1), María Rodríguez, Maddi Bengoetxea (2), Claudia Martínez (1), Paula Lluch (2 min), Marina González (2), Aitana Pastor (1).
Coach: José Ignacio Prades.
CB Zonzamas Plus Car Lanzarote (23): Valentina Menucci, Marie Louis (5, excl. 43’), Brenda Roger (2), Ingrid Roger, Gleinys Reyes (3), María Paula Fernández (3), Agustina López (1), Luna Vončina, Alicia Robles, Irene Botella (3, excl. 7’), Paula García (1), Nahomi Márquez (2, excl. 38’ and 45’), Claudia Kaulback (1), Daniela Jerónimo, Lorena Zarco (2), Mbongo Masseu.
Coach: Juan Miguel Pérez.
Refereeing: The match was directed by the referees Cristina Martín Delgado and Libertad Martínez Schilling, who sanctioned Emiliana Heilmann (2:24 and 4:18) and Paula Lluch (37:59) with two minutes for Elda Prestigio, while Irene Botella (7:55), Nahomi Márquez (38:42 and 45:11) and Marie Louis (43:46) saw the exclusion in CB Zonzamas Plus Car Lanzarote.
Partial scores: 2-2, 5-6, 7-7, 8-8, 11-9, 12-12 (break); 14-14, 17-14, 18-16, 19-18, 22-20, 24-23 (final).
Observations: Match televised live as the Star Match of the day by Teledeporte played in the Florentino Ibáñez pavilion.
