The Astralpool CN Sabadell will play tomorrow in Athens (5:30 p.m.) the Champions League final, the 11th of its history, in search of the eighth continental crown, after defeating Olympiacos by 13-15.
In a great game against all the elements, an unbearable environmental pressure, the constant interruptions and a hard game of the Greeks, the players of David Palma knew how to impose their quality, guided by the goals of the Dutch Simone Van de Kraats (5) and the American Maggie Steffens (3).
first time
CN Sabadell had a great start (1-3), but the Olympiacos did not flinch and replied with a 4-1 that put him in advantage
In an infernal atmosphere in the Portateio Pool of El Pirao, CN Sabadell made its way between the deafening noise with a brutal start of 1-3. In just 2m17s, Van de Kraats (2) and Bea Ortiz hicked a deterrent. But the Olympiacos or flinch. The Greek replica was furious: it stuck a 4-1 partial with goals from Myriokefalitaki, the Australian Andrews and Santa Stefania (2) to put the 5-4 in the absence of 4 seconds of the horn. An intensity and vibrant game that continued in the second manga.
In the second quarter, Irene González established 5-5, Tricha advanced to Olympiacos and Van de Kraats with her third so much matched 6 in just two electrifiers. The defenses practically did not exist, fast plays, take and daca without pause. The game began to become rough, Rita Keszthelyi received a strong blow that forced the game and the duel darkened in disputes and frictions. Tricha put Olympiacos ahead again (7-6) in the absence of 55s and Maggie Stephens, the Americans incorporated for the Champions League, matched 20 seconds later. A penalty allowed Vasiliki Plevritou to bring the Greeks to rest ahead (8-7). In the partial, 3-3.
The second half
A great part of 2-4 in the third quarter put Sabadell ahead
The third quarter continued to be a fight against blows, from power to power, without any team from 2 goals. Irene González put 8-8 and Myriokefalitaki answered with 9-8. The Boya Defensor Sofia Turnou received an exclusion for violent play and the game was again in the absence of 4m21s. But in superiority, Steffens had 9-9 and Bea Ortiz, to the counter, established 9-10, the first Catalan advantage since Paula Leiton of Reverso in the first quarter.
The Olympiacos matched 10 through Myriokefalitaki and Bea Ortiz of penalties returned the advantage to Sabadell (10-11) in the absence of 1m14s for the end of the room. Leiton forced the exclusion of Ninou and the Catalans would have 18s to attack in superiority. Van de Kraats could not take advantage of it, but the Vallesan team entered one above the last 8 minutes.
Last quarter
The Sabadell, with a lot
In the last quarter, Andrews tied 11 in superiority by exclusion of Keszthalyi and Bea Ortiz crashed his launch to the stick. The Sabadell defended well, launched the against Giustini and finished off arriving alone Van de Kraats that put the 11-12. But the joy lasted little, because Stefania Santa adjusted a shot to the base of the post to match 12 in the absence of 4m21s. Van de Kraats returned the +1 (12-13) of penalty committed by Andrews, which was redeemed with 13-13 in the following play.
The semifinal entered in the last three minutes with tables on the scoreboard. Tara Prentice, the other American of Sabadell, unpublished in the game, appeared to score the 13-14 in the absence of 2m14s. The Pireo lowered the volume. And more than he did with the palm from the Boya of Maggie Steffens that put the 13-15, the first advantage of 2 goals, in the absence of a minute and a half.
It was enough to tie the victory and qualify for the final, the 11th that will play the Vallesan team, in search of its 8th crown.
