Zonzamas Plus Car Lanzarote wrote another new page in its recent history this Wednesday by achieving its first victory in the Copa de la Reina, prevailing by 39-41 against Balonmano Zuazo Femenino in the Lasesarre Pavilion (Barakaldo), in an intense, exciting match full of alternatives that needed an extension to be resolved.
The match began with great pace and a constant exchange of goals. Zonzamas started the match better, with Claudia Kaulback closing the first partial with 2-4 in the 5th minute. However, Zuazo reacted with a more advanced defense and managed to tie at five before the score entered a phase of equilibrium. Las batateras, led by Agustina López Santamarina and Marie Louis, maintained the initiative, although the locals took advantage of several losses to turn the score around (12-11, min. 19).
Coach Juan Rivera stopped the game with a timeout (15-12, min. 22:51) to halt the Basque team's push, and the team responded with character before halftime, which arrived with a tight 19-17.
In the restart, Daniela Jerónimo's exclusion put Zonzamas in trouble, but the team knew how to suffer and tie at 20 thanks to a goal into an empty net by Irene Botella. From there, the Lanzarote team grew in confidence: Ingrid Roger put her team ahead (21-22, min. 36) and goalkeeper Alicia Robles supported the team with several key interventions.
The match entered a phase of exchanging goals (24-26, min. 43) and constant excitement. Zuazo tied again (27-27, min. 47) and even took the lead (31-30, min. 53:50), but Zonzamas never gave up. After Eider Cuñado was sent off in the 57th minute, the 'batateras' regained the initiative and forced overtime after the 34-34 final score of regulation time.
Extra time began with an exclusion of Irene Botella and a penalty converted by Zuazo, but Marie Louis once again leveled the score. After another exchange of goals, the halftime of extra time was reached with a 37-37 tie. In the second period, Daniela Jerónimo assumed offensive leadership and led the team in the decisive moments, scoring the goals that ended up sealing the final 39-41.
With this victory, Zonzamas Plus Car Lanzarote achieves a historic triumph, their first in the Queen's Cup, and they do so just days after the change in their coaching staff, now led by Juan Rivera, the architect of the promotion to Iberdrola. A result that reinforces the group's confidence and marks the beginning of an exciting new stage for the batatero club just before the first major island derby of this season, which will be played on Saturday, October 25, at the Titerroy Municipal Pavilion.
Technical Specifications
Balonmano Zuazo Femenino (39): Lais Ferreira, Eider Hernández (6), Laida Zaballa (2), Izaro Sáiz (2), Naia Puigbó (4), Ixone García (4) and Sofía Ballada (14), Eider Cuñado (1), Mariam González (1), Imane Ben Chayhab (1), June Amilibia (2), Olaitz Landera (2) and Zihara Pérez. Coach: Joseba Rodríguez.
Zonzamas Plus Car Lanzarote (41): Valentina Menucci, Marie Louis (10), Ingrid Roger (2), Agustina López (4), Irene Botella (3), Paula García (3) y Claudia Kaulback (7), Alicia Robles, María Paula Fernández (3), Daniela Jerónimo (6), Lorena Zarco (1), Nahomi Márquez, Luna Voncina (2), Madalena Masseu, Naydith Morales y Yasmin Fernández. Coach: Juan José Rivera.
Scores every 5 minutes: 2-4, 6-6, 7-7, 12-11, 16-13, 19-17 (halftime); 20-20, 24-24, 27-27, 31-30, 34-34 (end of regulation); 37-37 (overtime halftime), 39-41 (final).
Referees: Match officiated by Marta Fernández Lafuente and Maialen Calderón Duñabeitia. Ingrid Roger (31:42), Daniela Jerónimo (32:59), Irene Botella (38:17 and 60:40), and Nahomi Márquez (64:06) were excluded for Zonzamas Plus Car Lanzarote; and Naia Puigbó (33:29) and Eider Cuñado (57:56) for Balonmano Zuazo Femenino.
Incidents: Lasesarre Pavilion (Barakaldo). Match corresponding to the first round of the XLVII edition of the Copa de S. M. la Reina.
