Padova defeats Mataro while Dynamo, Vouliagmeni, Roma and Sabadell win

After all the hype and suspense, the first day of the 2021-2022 Women’s Euro League certainly did not disappoint.

The big news of the day came in Group C where CN Mataro lost to Italian league leaders, Plebiscito Padova. Elsewhere: in Rome CE Mediterrani held on to see off FTC by the score of 10-8, a high quality contest in Athens saw Russian side Dynamo Uralochka overcome NC Glyfada, and a fascinating match-up which ended honours even between Spandau 04 Berlin and Olympic Nice unravelled in Berlin. The last game of the day was definitely worth staying around for as Ekipe Orizzonte managed to beat Ethnikos in Porto.

Sabadell won with ease against the Portuguese side, CA Pacense, by 34-3 which takes them top of group D. Also top of their respective group is Lille UC, who were clinical in dispatching the Sirens of Malta by 27-3.

Vouliagmeni took full advantage of BVSC’s second quarter collapse as they defeated them 13-5.

It was a good day for the Italian clubs as, on top of Plebiscito Padova, CSS Verona, SIS Roma and Ekipe Orizzonte all recorded victories. On the other hand, both of Hungary’s qualifying teams (FTC & BVSC) lost.

We still await the first glimpses of CN Terrassa in Group A and SK Olympia Kosice in Group D.

Group A

Despite a bit of a logistical calamity at the beginning of the game, whereby the match was halted twice for about five minutes, there was a really high quality match on display in Athens that resulted in a 15-11 victory for Dynamo Uralochka over ANO Glyfada. The Russian’s owe much to Maria Bersneva, who grabbed 6 very important goals while Glyfada’s young Eirini Ninou and their experienced captain Stamatina Kontogianni both secured 5 goals each.

In the second game in Group A, Edo Keren’s very young and inexperienced side from Tel Aviv were outmuscled by a well-organised and decisive CSS Verona. Nicole Zanetta snatched 5 goals while three of CSS’s players grabbed a quad of goals (Arianna Gragnolati and Paola Di Maria). Roberta Bianconi continued her excellent domestic goal scoring from the A1 in Italy and converted three times, as did the Russian and former KINEF player, Elizaveta Ivanova, who scored on four occasions. Verona will definitely have a tougher game tomorrow, where they face Terrassa – who had an evening off tonight.

ANO Glyfada 11-15 Dynamo Uralochka (2-3, 4-2, 2-4, 3-6)

Glyfada: E. Gangl, P. Ninou, L. Katsoni, M. Thomopoulou, E. Grigoropoulou, E. Ninou 5, E. Antoniadi, A. Kolitsopoulou, I. Koolhaas 1, E. Fountontou, M. Galiatsatou, S. Kontogianni 5, E. Karytsa

Uralochka: P. Zabalueva, A. Panfilova, E. Zaplatina 2, D. Bunakova, A. Sharafutdinova 2, P. Popova 2, E. Zelentsova 1, Y. Lapteva, R. Galimzianova 1, E. Golubeva 1, V. Kolkova, M. Bersneva 6, E. Golovina

ASA Tel Aviv 10-26 CSS Verona (2-4, 2-6, 2-7, 4-9)

Tel Aviv: A. Peres, M. Katzir, G. Lorberboym, M. Lichtenstein, D.Namakshtansky 1, A. Yaacobi 4, A. Peer, A. Hadar, L. Tourgeman 1, E. Freidman 1, N. Vardi, R. Gazit 3, R. Lichtenstein

Verona: L. Sparano, A. Esposito 1, E. Ivanova 4, N. Zanetta 5, P. Kempf 1, M. Marchetti, R. Marcialis 1, R. Bianconi 3, A. Gragnolati 4, P. Di Maria 4, E. Altamura 3, V. Sbruzzi, G. Gabusi

Standings

1. CSS Verona – 1 – 3pts
2. Dynamo Uralochka – 1 – 3pts
3. CN Terrassa – 0 – 0pts
4. NC Glyfada – 1 – 0pts
5. ASA Tel Aviv – 1 – 0pts
   

   Photo: Dynamo Uralochka

Group B

A really poor start from Ferencvaros in Rome really cost the Hungarians as they lost 10-8 to Maria Diaz’s CE Mediterrani. Two goals each from Clara Espar and Helena Dalmases, as well as finishes from Wolves and Crespi, really put the side from Budapest on the back foot. They did, however, grow into the game, and pulled the score back within one in the last quarter, but two more goals from Espar (who scored five in the match) – one from a penalty, and one from a Boglarka Neszmely error, which ended up swinging all the momentum back with Mediterrani.

Roma saw off a fairly underwhelming challenge from the Dutch side ZVL 1886 to run out 20-7 winners. Silvia Avegno converted 6, Sofia Giustini netted 5 while Cocchiere, Galardi and Di Claudio made sure of the result with 2 goals apiece.

Lille UC were fully expected to beat Malta Sirens, and they did with ease by 24 goals. Louise Guillet converted 6 times, while the Czech Daniela Vomastkova (5) and the Greek international Effrosyni Katsimpri (4) both made big contributions.

CE Mediterrani 10-8 FTC-Telekom Budapest (6-1, 0-1, 2-4, 2-2)

Mediterrani: N. Trojan, A. Munoz, M. Viladot, I. Wolves 1, C. Toha Vilanova, C. Rodriguez, C. Espar 5, A. Marcos, A. Grossman, H. Dalmases 2, P. Crespi 2, S. Lizotte, D. Willemsz

Ferencvaros: O. Cseho-Kovacsne, P. Petik, M. Zsuzsanna 1, K. Valentin, P. Pocze 1, V. Kovesdi 2, M. Koopman, A. Illes 1, Z. Kuna, V. Valyi 1, D. Toth-Csabi, D. Domsodi 2, B. Neszmely

SIS Roma 20-7 ZVL 1886 Tetteroo (5-3, 5-1, 7-0, 3-3)

Roma: E. Eichelberger, A. Cocchiere 2, G. Galardi 2, S. Avengo 6, S. Giustini 5, C. Ranalli 1, D. Picozzi, C. Tabani, C. Nardini 1, L. Di Claudio 2, S. Storai 1, S. Carosi, M. Brandimarte

ZVL-1886: J. Ossting, D. Kammerman, L. Roels, R. De Kleer, N. Meijer 1, N. Zwiers 2, G. Gras 1, A. Pauli 1, L. Terpstra 1, B. Rogge, G. Voorvelt, J. Joor 1, Y. Van der Waal.

Lille Metropole WP 27-3 Sirens Malta (6-1, 7-0, 6-2, 8-0)

Lille: M. Rycraw, M. Ouchache 2, B. Van de Velde 2, G. Fitaire, L. Guillet 6, J. D’halluin 2, V. Kordonskaia 1, E. Katsimpri 4, J. Kohli 2, D. Vomastkova 5, E. Bovali 1, A. Kochetova 2, D. Nigro

Sirens: A. Amato, E. Montfort, K. Agius 1, K. Narvarro 1, M. Perici Ferrante, N. Scicluna, M. Falzon, E. Amato, D. Micallef 1, K. Attard, Z. Bartolo, Z. Cutajar Licari, K. Agius

Standings

1. Lille UC – 1 – 3pts
2. SIS Roma – 1 – 3pts
3. CE Mediterrani – 1 – 3pts
4. FTC-Telekom Budapest – 1 – 0pts
5. ZVL 1886 – 1 – 0pts
6. Sirens Malta – 1 – 0pts

Photo: LEN

Group C

Plebiscito Padova have made a real statement of intent in their opening game of the Euro League with a massive victory over one of the tournament’s very best teams, Mataro. The game was tight for all of the first half, but it was Laura Barzon’s two goals in the third period, and another two from Mariia Borisova and Alessia Casson that clawed Padova from 5-4 down to 8-6 up. Anni Espar netted three times, while Markoch and Gual both converted twice, but it was not enough for Spain’s league leaders to take the points. While this defeat for Dani Ballart’s side is unexpected, it is unlikely to change the fact that Mataro will escape the group. The victory for Padova, however, is a great confidence booster for Stefano Posterivo’s side, showing they have the quality to compete and push the very best in Europe.

The opening game of the competition saw Vouliagmeni brush past BVSC with a 13-5 victory. While the first quarter was close, it seemed all the momentum swung towards the Greeks when Kotsioni saved a penalty in the second period – after which BVSC seemed to collapse and lose the quarter 0-5. The Australian international, Amy Ridge, had a fantastic game – netting three times.

Elsewhere, it took a Barbara Bujka screamer into the top left-hand corner 20 seconds from time to secure Spandau a hard-fought draw against visitors Olympic Nice. In a really closely-fought contest between two even teams, the noise of the home fans ultimately carried Marko Stamm’s side to a point. Bujka scored 4 for Spandau, while there were braces for Millot, Battu, Sacre, Urvari, Tamas and Vernoux for Nice.

CN Mataro 8-9 Plebiscito Padova (3-2, 2-2, 1-4, 2-1)

Mataro: M. Sanchez, S. Morell, S. Van de Kraats 1, A. Gual 2, V. Sevenich, A. Timofeeva, C. Cambray, C. Nogue, M. Bach, Q. Bertran, A. Espar 3, B. Markoch 2, B. Colominas

Padova: L. Teani, L. Barzon 3, M. Gottardo, M. Borisova 2, E. Queirolo, A. Casson 1, A. Millo 1, E. Armit, C. Meggiato 1, S. Centanni 1, A. Grigolon, C. Giacon

NC Vouliagmeni 13-5 BVSC-Zuglo  (3-3, 5-0, 3-1, 2-1)

Vouliagmeni: M. Kotsioni, K. Stamatina, I. Chydirioti 2, T. Moustakaria 2, A. Giannopoulos 2, A. Ridge 3, E. Tankeeva, M. Patra 1, D. Andreadi, V. Diamantopoulou 2, S. Santa 1, F. Angelidi, E. Patra

BVSC: E. Pecz, F. Fekete, K. Meszaros-Farkas 1, D. Alaksza 1, A. Krenusz, T. Farkas, K. Hnatyszyn, D. Leimeter 1, Z. Polak, N. Nikolett, N. Alaksza, A. Gemes 2, K. Kakas

Spandau 04 Berlin 13-13 Olympic Nice (4-4, 4-3, 3-4, 2-2)

Spandau: J. Bent, B. Vosseberg 3, A. Grandis, I. Deike, T. Klein 1, G. Deike, N. Hartwig 1, J. Glaser, K. Hosoya 2, B. Bujka 4, L. Krukenberg 2, M. Salloum, A. Oldenburg

Nice: M. Chabrier, E. Millot 2, A. Battu 2, A. Sacre 2, K. Noy, L. Urvari 2, M. Barbieux, V. Tamas 2, E. Vernoux 2, C. Bouloukbachi 1, Y. Deschampt, V. Heurtaux, C. Gaal

Standings

1. NC Vouliagmeni – 1- 3pts
2. Plebiscito Padova – 1 – 3pts
3. Olympic Nice – 1 – 1pts
4. Spandau Berlin – 1 – 1pts
5. CN Mataro – 1 – 0pts
6. BVSC Zuglo – 1 – 0pts

Photo: Spandau 04

Group D

The last game of the evening across Europe was a cagey and nail-bitting affair, but the all-time record Euro League winners, Ekipe Orizzonte, ran out 15-14 winners against a very good Ethnikos side. Valeria Palmieri and Claudia Marletta both netted 4 times for the Italians, with Giulia Viacava getting three. The new arrival from Australia, Bronte Halligan, recorded 2 scores. Ethnikos’s goals mainly came from their home grown players Fovi Chatzikyriakaki, Ioulia Kontoni, Ioli Beneko, but 5 of their goals were from the two half-nationals from the USA, Steph (2) and Ioanna (3) Haralabidis.

Sabadell, one of the tournament’s favourites, got off to a delightful start with a rampant victory over the Portuguese side, Pacense. David Palma’s side were dominant from start to end – winning the first quarter by an astonishing 12-0. Judith Forca, who is having an unbelievable season, netted 9, while Maartje Keuning slotted 6 home. Maica Garcia and Irene Gonzalez got four, as did the debutant Gurpreet Sohi – who secured a first quarter hat-trick.

Ekipe Orizzonte 15-14 Ethnikos Piraeus (4-3, 3-3, 4-4, 4-4)

Orizzonte: G. Condoreli, B. Halligan 2, D. Spampinato, G. Viacava 3, V. Gant, D. Bettini 2, V. Palmieri 4, C. Marletta 4, G. Emmolo, J. Vukovic, A. Lungo, M. Leone, H. Santpaola

Ethnikos: E. Sotireli, K. Ioannou, I. Haralabidis 3, E. Elliniadi, I. Kontoni 1, V. Bakoc 1, F. Chatzikyriakaki 2, A. Benekou 3, M. Rakintzi, S. Haralabidis 2, I-A, Benekou 2, A-P. Karampetsou, E. Ferentinou

CA Pacense 3-34 Astralpool CN Sabadell (0-12, 2-8, 1-9, 0-5)

Pacense: A. Barbosa, L. Silva, C. Quinhentas, R. Duarte 1, J. Teixeira 2, L. Costa, A. Andrade, F. Duarte, B. Peixoto, A. Sousa, V. Freire, B. Santiago, A. Sousa

Sabadell: L. Ester, M. Ortiz, B. Games 1, S. Van der Sloot, M. Serrano 1, M. Steffens 2, G. Sohi 4, M. Garcia Godoy 4, J. Forca Ariza 9, M. Keuning 6, N. Perez 3, I. Gonzalez 4, P. Carilla

Standings

1. Astralpool Sabadell – 1 – 3pts
2. Ekipe Orizzonte – 1 – 3pts
3. SK Olympia Kosice – 0 – 0pts
4. Ethnikos Piraeus – 1 – 0pts
5. CA Pacense – 1 – 0pts