Euro Cup F – Trieste beats Tenerife by 6 goals

EURO CUP WOMEN: FIRST LEG SEMIFINAL
TRIESTE DEFEATS TENERIFE BY 6 GOALS (15-9)
PAOLO ZIZZA: "GOOD MARGIN AHEAD OF THE RETURN LEG"

The "orchette" shine in Europe. In the women's Euro Cup first-leg semifinal, Pallanuoto Trieste defeated Cn Tenerife Echeyde 15-9. At the "Bruno Bianchi" pool, the team sponsored by Samer & Co. Shipping achieved a particularly valuable victory. The girls in red and white stripes will travel to Spain for the return match on February 15 with a 6-goal advantage. "We played a great game, building a good margin - explains coach Paolo Zizza - I am satisfied with the performance, we had been inactive for more than a month but despite this, the tactical mechanisms worked. Now let's focus back on the league with the same attitude and character."

The match report. Klatowski opens the scoring in power play (1-0), Gragnolati doubles the lead with a penalty shot (2-0). Borg pulls one back (2-1), but the "orchette" respond with Gragnolati and a splendid volley by Koptseva from an assist by Gant: 4-1 at the end of the first quarter. In the second period, Trieste continues to dominate. Vukovic and Citino increase the lead to +5 for the striped team (6-1), Borg keeps the Spanish team close (6-2). Captain Cergol scores twice in quick succession (8-2). Dempsey reduces the gap (8-3), Guya Zizza from position "one" re-establishes the +6 lead (9-3) before Naya's goal: 9-4 at halftime.

In the third quarter, the Spanish team attempts a comeback and gets within -4 twice with Borg and Dempsey scoring from penalties, to which Cergol and Cordovani respond (11-6). Naya brings Tenerife closer (11-7), then Gragnolati in power play, with a delightful assist from De March, extends the lead to +6: 13-7 with 8 minutes left. In the final period, Trieste tightens their defense further. Colletta and Koptseva, in power play, increase the lead to +7 on two occasions (14-7 and 15-8), Dempsey from a penalty and Ramos with an extra player goal reduce the gap (15-9). Sparano puts an exclamation point by saving Naya's penalty, sealing the final score at 15-9.

Now, the women's A1 league returns. On Wednesday, January 29th (2:30 PM), the "orchette" will face Brizz Nuoto from Acireale at the "Scuderi" pool.

PALLANUOTO TRIESTE – CN TENERIFE ECHEYDE 15-9 (4-1; 5-3; 4-3; 2-2)

PALLANUOTO TRIESTE: Sparano, Citino 1, De March, Cordovani 1, Gant, Cergol 3, Klatowski 1, Colletta 1, Gragnolati 4, Vukovic 1, G. Zizza 1, Apollonio, Koptseva 2. Coach: P. Zizza

CN TENERIFE ECHEYDE: Bello, Dempsey 3, Reynoso, Buscarons, Borg 3, Clapperton, Naya 2, Bennasar, Hernandez, Rodriguez, Ramos 1, Alcon, Costa. Coach: Cruz Torro

Referees: Blanchard (Fra) and Rakovic Krstonovic (Srb)

NOTES: Exited due to exclusion fouls: Buscarons (E) and Colletta (T) in the fourth period; in the fourth period, Sparano (T) saved a penalty by Naya; Power play goals: Pallanuoto Trieste 6/8+1 penalty, Cn Tenerife Echeyde 2/7+3 penalties

Alessandro Scollo
Pallanuoto Trieste
In the photo: Lucrezia Cergol, author of 3 goals