Five teams have qualified for the quarterfinals of the Women’s Champions League prior to the conclusion of the second and final matchday of Qualification Round II.
The two Spanish sides in Group B have dumped their Hungarian opponents out of the competition. Sabadell and Mataro are both through, and will face off tomorrow. The five-time European Champions defeated Eger, their hosts, by a score of 14-9, while Mataro defeated Ferencvaros, 16-8.
And it’s a full sweep of Spanish sides into the quarter-finals, after Mediterrani secured a huge three points with a tenacious 9-6 victory over UVSE. Since Glyfada held off an Ethnikos comeback (12-9), the Hungarian champions need a victory against Glyfada tomorrow to keep their Champions League hopes alive.
Reigning champions Olympiacos are one step closer to retaining their title after an excellent 12-10 victory over Vouliagmeni. After confidently defeating De Zaan 13-6, Roma also advances. Both qualified teams meet tomorrow for the honour of winning the group.
The derby between Padova and Ekipe Orizzonte was already enticing, but now the loser faces elimination from the competition when the two sides meet tomorrow morning. This comes after Dunaujavros drew with Ekipe (7-7), marking their second tie in as many games. Dunaujvaros can advance to the quarterfinals with a victory against ZVL tomorrow.
Group A
Dunaujvaros played out another exciting draw in Padua, this time a 7-7 tie with the hosts Plebiscito.
After tying 11-11 with Ekipe on the opening day, Dunaujvaros played another close game against an Italian team.
Padova’s Laura Barzon scored a game-high three goals in the match. Hayley McKelvey and Vanda Valyi each scored twice, with Valyi playing against one of her former teams.
In the meantime, Ekipe demolished ZVL 21-4 this evening. Bronte Halligan and Dafne Bettini scored five goals each during the match.
Martina Miceli’s side led 7-1 at halftime before scoring fourteen goals in the second half to give the team from Leiden no chance.
The winner of tomorrow’s match between the two Italian teams will advance to the quarterfinals. If Dunaujvaros defeats ZVL tomorrow, they will advance to the next round at the expense of one of the Italian clubs.
Plebiscito Padova 7 – 7 Dunaujvaros (2-3, 3-1, 1-1, 1-2)
Padova: L. Teani, L. Barzon 3, V. Valyi 2, G. Citino, E. Queirolo, A. Casson, A. Millo, S. Dario, H. McKelvey 2, C. Meggiato, S. Centanni, B. Cassara, C. Giacon
Dunaujvaros: L. Maczko, C. Jonkl, N. L. Kardos, L Dobi , B. Horvath 2, G. Mahieu, N. Szabo, K. Garda 2, A. Mandula 2, D. Kardos, R. Pal, N. Sumegi 1, L. Aarts
Ekipe Orizzonte 21 – 4 ZVL 1886 (3-1, 4-0, 5-1, 9-2)
Ekipe: L. Celona, B. Hallgan 5, C. Grasso 1, G. Viacava 1, V. Gant, D. Bettini 5, V. Palmieri 1, C. Marletta 3, G. Gagliardi, A. Williams 2, A. Longo 1, M. Leone 2, G. Condorelli
ZVL: J. Oosting, D. Kammerman, L. Roels, R. De Kleer, L. Verhagen, N. Zwiers, D. Gras, A. Pauli, L. Terpstra, M. Van Veen, T. Van der Meer, J. Joor, Y. van der Waal
Standings
- Ekipe Orizzonte – 2 – 4pts
- Plebiscito Padova – 2 – 4pts
- Dunaujvaros – 2 – 2pts
- ZVL 1886 – 2 – 0pts
Group B
Anni Espar scored five goals to lead Mataro to a 16-8 victory over FTC.
Mataro were just as good at keeping the ball out of their own net as they were at putting it in Fradi’s, conceding ten fewer personal fouls than their Hungarian opponents.
In the late game at Bitskey, Sabadell proved superior to Eger, prevailing 14-9.
Elena Ruiz(4), Sabrina Van der Sloot (3), Irene Casado (2) and Irene Gonzalez (2) were the multi-scorers in the contest, which was over by the third period.
Ferencvaros and Eger were simply outplayed this weekend, and will continue their European campaign in the Euro Cup.
CN Mataro 16 – 8 FTC Telekom (6-2, 2-1, 6-3, 2-2)
Mataro: E. Sanchez, S. Morell, S. Van de Kraats 3, A. Gual 2, V. Sevenich 1, R. Keszthelyi 2, C. Cambray, C. Nogue, S. Avegno 2, Q. Bertran 1, A. Espar 5, M. Murillo, E. Herrera
FTC: B. Neszmely, B. Vosseberg, Z. Mate, G. Gurisatti, P. Pocze, T. Farkas, D. Leimeter, A. Illes, S. Kuna, P. Petik, E. Millot, D. Domsodi, L. Greso
Sabadell 14 – 9 ZF Eger (2-3, 5-1, 4-2, 3-3)
Sabadell: L. Ester, M. Ortiz 1, P. Leiton, S. Van der Sloot 3, M. Serrano, I. Casado 2, E. Ruiz 4, M. Garcia 1, J. Forca 1, B. Ortiz, N. Perez, I. Gonzalez 2, M. Carrasco
Eger: A. Kiss, P. Jansco, I. Borsi, R. Parkes, E. Weston, Z. Katona, R. Parkanyi, D. Czigany, B. Kekesi, F. Bodi, C. Szellak, D. Szilagyi, M. Dulic
Standings
- CN Mataro – 2 – 6pts
- Astralpool Sabadell – 2 – 6pts
- ZF Eger – 2 – 0pts
- FTC Telekom – 2 – 0pts
Group C
Mediterrani stunned reigning Hungarian champions UVSE with an impressive performance in the final third of the match, defeating them 9-6.
The teams were evenly matched for the majority of the game, but Marian Diaz’s squad maintained composure in the fourth quarter to secure a resounding victory at Alfred Hajos.
Moments before the end of the third period, a nearside goal by left-handed player Paula Crespi gave Mediterrani a 7-6 lead.
Paula Prats’s magnificent bouncing shot gave Medi a two-goal advantage for the first time. With the momentum on the Spanish side, a scuffed shot by Clara Espar and a tap-in by Helena Dalmases at the back post were enough to defeat UVSE.
Glyfada’s hopes of advancing to the quarterfinals are still alive after defeating their Greek rivals 12-9 in the late match on Margaret Island.
Stamatina Kontogianni, the left-handed captain of Glyfada, scored five goals in a game in which her team had to withstand a spirited comeback attempt by Ethnikos.
In the third quarter, when Glyfada held a five-goal advantage (7-2), Ethnikos performed admirably to tie the score at 7-7. However, three unanswered goals in the final period (Wolves, Kontogianni, and Fountontou) gave Theodoros Andreakos’s squad the victory.
The victory for Glyfada means it’s now a straight shootout between them and UVSE for a place in the quarter-finals. They meet at 12:45 tomorrow.
UVSE 6 – 9 CE Mediterrani (1-1, 3-2, 1-3, 1-3)
UVSE: A. Magyari, T. Aubeli, E. Macsai, K. Hajdu 1, G. Szucs 1, E. Varro, V. Baksa, K. Farago 1, P. Szegedi 1, P. Tiba, R. Irmes, K. Peresztegi-Nagy 2, S. Golopencza
Mediterrani: I. Costa, A. Munoz, A. Crevier 1, A. Marcos, V. Bakoc 1, C. Rodriguez, P. Prats 2, C. Espar 2, D. Moreno, H. Dalmases, P. Crespi, S. Lizotte, G. Palm
Ethnikos 9 – 12 ANO Glyfada (2-3, 3-4, 3-2, 1-3)
Ethnikos: E. Sotireli, A. Karampetsou, M. Borisova, V. Laskaridou, I. Kontoni 3, E. Katsimpri, F. Chatzikyriaki, A. Benekou 2, R. Rakintzi, E. Kandetidou 2, L. Benekou, C. Andrews 2, A. Bekri
Glyfada: E. Karytsa, P. Ninou, T. Moustakaria, I. Wolves 1, E. Grigoropoulou 1, E. Ninou 1, E. Antoniadi, I. Kanellopoulou, I. Koolhaas 2, E. Fountontou, 2 L. Katsoni, S. Kontogianni 5, V. Tsiara
Standings
- CE Mediterrani – 2 – 6pts
- ANO Glyfada – 2 – 3pts
- UVSE – 2 – 3pts
- Ethnikos – 2 – 0pts
Group D
Roma are guaranteed a place in the final eight of the Champions League with an impressive 13-6 victory over De Zaan.
The Dutch team was unable to capitalise on yesterday’s tremendous effort against Olympiacos. A strong first half from the Italians gave them a strong foothold in the match, with a 3-1, 4-1 first half.
Giuditta Galardi fired home three goals, while Sofia Giustini, Chiara Ranalli, and Chiara Tabani each scored twice.
Tomorrow’s game against Olympiacos is no longer crucial for the Romans, as they no longer require a victory.
Olympiacos are also past the first hurdle in their title defence, with a hard-fought but deserved 12-10 victory over Greek rivals NC Vouliagmeni.
Christmas came early for the Greeks, as the Canadian left-hander netted five goals in the game.
In reality, the game was likely more comfortable than the score indicated. After a 4-0 second period, Olympiacos dominated the majority of the contest. Two penalties were missed by Alexander Ciric’s team, and Athina Giannopoulou’s penalty shot with two seconds remaining for Vouliagmeni made the score appear closer.
Tomorrow, Roma will play Olympiacos for the top spot in Group D, while Vouliagmeni and De Zaan will play for pride.
SIS Roma 13 – 6 ZV De Zaan (4-1, 3-1, 3-2, 3-2)
Roma: E. Eichelberger, L. Papi, G. Galardi 3, S. Carosi, S. Giustini 2, C. Ranalli 2, D. Picozzi 1, C. Tabani 2, C. Nardini 1, L. Di Claudio, A. Cocchiere 1, A. Andrews 1, G. Galbani
Zaan: E. Alander, L. Rogge 4, L. Den Ouden, M. Schapp 1 1, T. Sam, S. Vleeshakker, M. Koopman, D. Sap, L. Plugge, M. Van Tol, B. Rogge, B. Van den Dobbelsteen
NC Vouliagmeni 10 – 12 Olympiacos (3-3, 0-4, 5-3, 2-2)
Vouliagmeni: T. Sakaloglou, S. Kaiafa, D. Kalogeropoulou, E. Elliniadi 4, A. Giannopoulou 4, N. Krassa, A. Ridge 2, E. Markatseli, K. Stratidaki, D. Andreadi, M. Mimidi, F. Angelidi, M. Kotsioni
Olympiacos: C. Diamantopoulou, E. Plevritou 1, I. Chydirioti 1, N. Eleftheriadou 2, F. Tricha, E. Xenaki, C. Siouti, M. Plevritou 2, S. Tornarou, V. Plevritou, K. Christmas 5, M. Myriokefalitaki 1, I. Stamatopoulou
Standings
- SIS Roma – 2 – 6pts
- Olympiacos – 2- 6pts
- NC Vouliagmeni – 2 – 0pts
- ZV De Zaan – 2 – 0pts
Fixtures
Sunday 11th December
09:30 – Group D – NC Vouliagmeni vs ZV De Zaan
10:00 – Group A – ZVL 1886 vs Dunaujvaros
11:00 – Group B – Astralpool Sabadell vs CN Mataro
11:00 – Group C – CE Mediterrani vs Ethnikos
11:30 – Group D – SIS Roma vs Olympiacos
11:45 – Group B – ZF Eger vs FTC Telekom
12:00 – Group A – Plebiscito Padova vs Ekipe Orizzonte
12:45 – Group C – UVSE vs ANO Glyfada
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