El Zonzamas Plus Car Lanzarote signed this Saturday one of the most important victories of its season by defeating Super Amara Bera Bera, one of the great favorites for the title, 25-26 at the Pabellón José Antonio Gasca in San Sebastián. In a match corresponding to matchday 19 of the Liga Guerreras Iberdrola, the Lanzarote team showed personality, composure, and an enormous capacity for suffering to achieve a prestigious triumph against the second-placed team.
The match started with maximum equality and a lot of rhythm. Bera Bera needed a superiority to take the lead for the first time (4-3, min. 5) and shortly after a penalty converted by Karsten put the score at 6-3 in the 9th minute, at which point the home team began to find greater offensive continuity. Zonzamas, with problems in attack at that stage, managed to resist and reacted from seven meters, with two penalties converted by Marie Louis that returned equality to the scoreboard (6-6, min. 12).
The exchange of blows continued and Luna Voncina signed the eight-all draw with an empty net in the 14th minute. However, a new offensive slump by the "batateras" was punished by the San Sebastián team, which once again opened a gap with a goal from Elba Álvarez (11-8, min. 20). Juan J. Rivera called a timeout in the 23rd after almost ten minutes without scoring, and the reaction allowed Zonzamas to reach halftime still with options (13-11).
After the break, the script changed. Irene Botella came out very focused and led the comeback to 14-13 in the 35th minute. Shortly after, Gleinys Reyes equalized the match (14-14) and Ingrid Roger put Zonzamas ahead for the first time (14-15, min. 36). The moment of greatest advantage came with another goal from Marie Louis (15-17, min. 39), forcing Bera Bera to step up a gear to avoid falling behind in the match.
The locals reacted and the match entered a phase of maximum tension, with continuous exchanges and a decisive Alicia Robles under the posts, halting Bera Bera's attempts to break the game open. In the 50th minute, a goal by Ester Somaza returned the initiative to the San Sebastian team (21-20), and Rivera called a timeout to give air to a team that was beginning to feel the effort of a shorter rotation.
Bera Bera's greater squad depth allowed them to run and stay in the game, but Zonzamas did not falter. Elba Álvarez made it 25-24 in the 57th minute and the home coach called a timeout with just over a minute left. Brenda Roger responded with a counter-attack to tie the game again and, in the last play, Alicia Robles became the hero by stopping a penalty with five seconds left, securing a historic 25-26 victory for the Lanzaroteñas.
A victory of enormous value for Zonzamas Plus Car Lanzarote, which confirms its competitive growth and adds two golden points on one of the most demanding courts in the category.
Technical Sheet
Super Amara Bera Bera (25): Nicole Wiggins, Elba Álvarez (6), Eszter Ogonovszky (1), Laura Hernández (1), Lisanne Kruijswijk, Maitane Echeverria (3), Ester Somaza (3), Elke Karsten (4), Lyndie Tchaptchet Defo (3), Elena Amores (2), Anne Erauskin (1), Micaela Rodrigues (1), Lucia Prades, Elene Fresco. Coach: Imanol Álvarez Arruti.
Zonzamas Plus Car Lanzarote (26): Valentina Menucci, Marie Louis (6), Brenda Roger (3), Ingrid Roger (2), Gleinys Reyes (4), Paula Fernández (1), Luna Voncina, Alicia Robles, Irene Botella (6), Nahomi Márquez (1), Claudia Kaulback (2), Daniela Jerónimo (1), Amara Rodríguez. Ent: Juan José Rivera Ortega.
Referees: Ignacio Rubio Díaz and Sergio Fernández-Montes Medina. They excluded Elke Karsten (min. 35:49) and Lyndie Tchaptchet Defo (min. 42:34) for Super Amara Bera Bera and Ingrid Roger (min. 08:48), Irene Botella (min. 04:16 and 46:59), Nahomi Márquez (min. 35:26) and Daniela Jerónimo (min. 44:22 and 59:47) for Zonzamas Plus Car Lanzarote.
Incidents:
Match corresponding to the 19th matchday of the Liga Guerreras Iberdrola played at the Pabellón Municipal José Antonio Gasca.