Zonzamas has done it again. Three seasons later, the Lanzarote team returns to the Guerreras Iberdrola League after mathematically certifying promotion this weekend with their 22-29 victory on the court of Agrinova Costa del Almería Roquetas. With three games remaining in the championship, the players led by Juan Rivera have achieved the goal of the season: to return to the elite of Spanish women's handball.
The match that certified this milestone did not start smoothly, as the Andalusian team wanted to shake up the match from the first moments. Zonzamas, for its part, took time to settle on the 40x20 court, not managing to equalize the score until the 13th minute (5-5) and managing to take the lead for the first time in the 17th minute, thanks to a counterattack completed by Gleinys Reyes (6-7). From there, the visitors began to display their game with greater fluidity, reaching the 24th minute with a 7-10 lead and requesting a time-out to face the end of the first half firmly.
However, a major setback came in the 25th minute with the expulsion of Gleinys Reyes, one of the most disruptive players. The team suffered for moments, but managed to maintain the advantage and close the first act with a solid 10-14.
Far from being affected by the loss, Zonzamas resumed the second half with determination. In the 37th minute, a classy goal by Claramonte put the score at 11-17, consolidating the visitors' dominance. Roquetas tried to react by advancing lines and betting on individual defense, but the Lanzarote team remained calm, circulated the ball with criteria and found the necessary spaces to increase the advantage. In the 50th minute, the score reflected a clear 17-24, a prelude to a victory that would seal something more than two points.
The final whistle unleashed the joy of players, coaching staff and displaced fans: Zonzamas is officially a Guerreras Iberdrola League team. A collective success that was valued at the end of the match by the president and coach Juan José Rivera: "This promotion is the result of the constant work of all the players, the commitment of the technical team and the encouragement of a fan base that has never stopped believing. Every training session, every trip, every match has been worth it to experience this moment."
Zonzamas thus becomes the first team to certify promotion this season and does so with three games to go. Now, the goal is to prepare the leap in category with ambition, seeking to consolidate itself as one of the greats of Spanish women's handball. Rivera is clear: "We return to the elite with the intention of staying, settling down and continuing to grow. This club has a present and a great future."
The league has not ended and in the next 3 games the team wants to ensure being the league champion of the División de Honor Oro and enjoy all the minutes that remain with their fans. Next week the team receives Lobas Global Atac Oviedo, a team that still has options to win the second promotion ticket, in a match that promises emotion and celebration in equal parts.
TECHNICAL SHEET
Agrinova Costa de Almería Roquetas (22): María José Cara, Suraia Vicente Biepar, Gemma Sánchez (3), Sabado Mendy (1), Sonia Fuentes (1), Lucía Miranda, Laura Vicente (3), Inés Belmonte (3), Cristina Sánchez (4), Laura Quinta (1), Trinidad Fernández, Marta Rivas (1), Araceli Valverde (2), Rosa Leal (3), Lucía Montellano.
Zonzamas Plus Car Lanzarote (29): Valentina Menucci, María Sánchez (2), Luana Schallmey (2), Brenda Roger (5), Ingrid Roger (2), Gleinys Reyes (4), Ainhoa García (5), Isabel Colias (1), Mireia Torras (3), Irene Botella (1), Agustina López, Nahomi Márquez, Gabriela Romero (1), Andrea Claramonte (3).
Referees and exclusions:
Match directed by David Montes and Armando Abel Pérez. María José Cara (min. 47), Suraia Vicente (min. 12) and Laura Vicente (min. 20) were excluded for Agrinova Costa de Almería Roquetas and Mary Sánchez (min. 45), Gleinys Reyes (min. 17 and double exclusion in min. 25), Isabel Colías (min. 1) and Gabriela Romero (min. 22). Gleinys Reyes saw the red card for triple exclusion.
Match corresponding to the 23rd round of the División de Honor Oro Femenina in the Máximo Cuervo Municipal Sports Hall.
