Euro Cup F – Trieste narrowly beats Keruleti (14-13)

PAOLO ZIZZA: "SOME DEFENSIVE LAPSES PAID OFF"

Precious victory for Pallanuoto Trieste in the first leg match of the Women's Euro Cup quarter-finals. At the "Bruno Bianchi," the team sponsored by Samer & Co. Shipping defeated Keruleti Tve 14-13. A result that leaves everything open for the return match in Budapest on November 30th. "There is a bit of regret," analyzes coach Paolo Zizza, "we were ahead by 3 goals shortly before the end, then they came back, showing a lot of offensive quality. The performance was good, but some defensive lapses at this level cost us dearly. We will play for qualification in fifteen days in Hungary."

Match summary. The visitors took the lead with Huszti in a power play (0-1), a strong response followed: penalty by Gragnolati, goal by Koptseva on a power play, and a penalty by Cergol (3-1). However, the Orcas stopped and conceded four consecutive goals (Gyongyossy, Kiss, Raski, and Torok) for a 3-5 score at the end of the first period. The second period also saw an exchange of emotions. Trieste equalized with a double by Gragnolati (penalty and power play) to make it 5-5, but Keruleti took the lead again with goals by Gyongyossy and Hajdu (5-7). Guya Zizza on a power play and De March from the penalty spot leveled things again: 7-7 at halftime.

The battle continued in the third period. Gragnolati scored her fifth goal for a new +2 for the Orcas (9-7), then unfortunate circumstances allowed Hustzi to score for 9-8 (deflected shot), Rajna in a power play leveled the score at 9-9. Koptseva and Rajna converted penalties quickly to make it 10-10, Vukovic converted a power play to make it 11-10. The script remained the same in the last intense 8 minutes. Two goals by captain Cergol and a penalty by a composed Gragnolati twice pushed Trieste to a +3 lead (13-10 and 14-11). The Hungarians relied on last-minute goals by Raski to make it 14-13, the same score as the match played between the two teams in the Champions League on October 4th, for statistical purposes.

Wednesday, November 20th brings another league match at the "Bruno Bianchi," as the strong Sis Roma visits (8:00 pm).

PALLANUOTO TRIESTE – KERULETI TVE 14-13 (3-5; 4-2; 4-3; 3-3)

PALLANUOTO TRIESTE: Sparano, Citino, De March 1, Cordovani, Gant, Cergol 3, Klatowski, Colletta, Gragnolati 6, Vukovic 1, Koptseva 2, G. Zizza 1, Apollonio. Coach: P. Zizza

KERULETI TVE: Pecz, Keresztes, Torok 1, Blaga, Raski 4, Kiss 1, Gyongyossy 2, Huszti 2, Rajna 2, Hajdu 1, Bedo, Szombathelyi. Coach: Lukacs

Referees: Van De Berg (Ned) and Muller (Ger)

NOTES: excluded due to fouls: Klatowski (T) in the third period; Vukovic (T), Rajna (K), Gant (T), and Citino (T) in the fourth period; Power play goals: Pallanuoto Trieste 5/7 + 6 penalties, Keruleti Tve 8/11 + 2 penalties

Alessandro Scollo
Pallanuoto Trieste
In the photo: Arianna Gragnolati, 6 goals in the match against the Hungarians