Zonzamas Plus Car Lanzarote already knows what it is to win in the Guerreras Iberdrola League. The batatero team achieved this Saturday its first victory in the highest category of national women's handball after winning by a clear 33-27 against KH-7 Granollers in the Lanzarote Sports City, in a vibrant match full of alternatives that ended with the stands surrendered to their team.
The match started with equality, with Gleynis Reyes opening the scoring and the Catalans responding quickly. However, Zonzamas lost pace in attack and was soon 1-5 down, forcing Juanmi Pérez to call a time-out in the 7th minute. Goalkeeper Marta Mera kept her team alive thanks to five spectacular saves in just eight minutes, while Paula García's exclusion gave them even more oxygen. Little by little, with goals from Ingrid Roger, Agustina López and Marie Louis, the Lanzarote team reduced the disadvantage until leveling the match at 9 goals in the 22nd minute, unleashing madness in the stands. Granollers tried to react and regained the initiative, but two new actions by Agustina and Marie Louis allowed Zonzamas to go to halftime with a tie (13-13).
The second half started in a dazzling way for the locals. With Claudia Kaulback inspired on the wing and a 3-0 partial, Zonzamas shot up to 18-14 in the 34th minute, forcing Robert Cuesta to stop the match. In that section, Alicia Robles also appeared under the sticks, intractable against the visiting launchers. A double exclusion momentarily complicated things, allowing Granollers to get closer 18-16, but the local push and the encouragement of the public sustained the team in the most delicate moments.
The exchange of goals marked the central phase of the second half, with a solid Zonzamas that always maintained incomes of two and three goals. With ten minutes remaining, the electronic scoreboard showed a 24-21 that confirmed the local dominance. Neither the advanced 5:1 defense nor the risky 3:3 pressure in the final moments by Granollers could stop the Lanzarote team, who knew how to keep calm and close the match with authority.
The final 33-27 unleashed the party in the Lanzarote Sports City. Zonzamas Plus Car Lanzarote thus achieves its first victory in the history of the Guerreras Iberdrola League, a prestigious triumph against a rival with high aspirations that reinforces the team's morale and confirms that it is prepared to compete in the elite.
Next week the Lanzarote team will travel to La Rioja to face Grafometal Sporting La Rioja, a direct rival for Zonzamas' aspirations.
TECHNICAL SHEET
Zonzamas Plus Car Lanzarote (33): Valentina Menucci, Marie Louis (9), Brenda Roger, Ingrid Roger (1), Gleinys Reyes (1), María Paula Fernández, Agustina López (5, excl. 37’), Luna Vončina (6), Alicia Robles, Irene Botella (4), Paula García (excl. 8’ and 38’), Nahomi Márquez (excl. 24’ and 52’), Claudia Kaulback (7), Daniela Jerónimo, Lorena Zarco, Mbongo Masseu.
Coach: Juan Miguel Pérez.
KH-7 BM. Granollers (27): Judith Vizuete (2), Ona Vila (1), Mireia Torras (1), Carla González (3, excl. 28’), Belén Rodríguez (2, excl. 23’), Goundo Gassama, Lucía Pérez, Raquel Moré (3), Cristina Polonio (6, excl. 19’), Itziar Martínez, Nayla de Andrés (1), Claudia Juan, Marta Mera, Martina Capdevila (7).
Coach: Robert Cuesta.
Arbitration: The match was directed by the referees David Montes González and Armando Abel Pérez Pomares. They excluded Paula García (8:25 and 38:48), Nahomi Márquez (23:50 and 52:03) for Zonzamas; and Cristina Polonio (19:04), Belén Rodríguez (23:04) and Carla González (28:26) for Granollers.
Partials: 1-2, 1-7, 4-8, 6-9, 10-12, 13-13 (break); 18-14, 18-16, 19-17, 22-19, 26-23, 33-27 (final)
Observations: Match played in the Lanzarote Sports City before about 350 spectators.
