Spain defeated Team USA 18:14 (4:1, 3:6, 5:5, 6:2) in the second match of the Christmas Cup.
This game took place in Terrassa. Although the reigning World and European Champion won by four goals, it was not an easy victory. The Americans put up a stronger fight than in the first game of the Christmas Cup, played in Barcelona, where they suffered a seven-goal defeat (9:16) to the Spaniards.
Spain got off to a flying start. Early in the second quarter, the hosts built a 5:1 lead. It indicated that the encounter would be similar to the one in Barcelona. Unlike the first game of the Cup, the Americans were able to come back. Shortly before the middle break, their captain, Max Irving, leveled at 7:7.
Spain earned a 10:8 lead in the third period. The Americans, who had a very good conversion of man-ups (4/7) and penalty shots (3/3), equalized at 10:10. From that point until the middle of the final quarter, the teams traded goals. The visitors leveled for the last time at 14:14. Spain went on a 4:0 run in the final several minutes and secured the win.
Spain fielded more young players than in the match in Barcelona. Goalkeeper Unai Aguirre was among those who didn’t play in Terrassa. Edoardo Lorrio was the starting goalkeeper. Interestingly, Lorrio got on the scoreboard. He surprised Team USA’s goalie Weinberg in the first quarter, with a goal over the entire field to make it 2:0. Besides Lorrio, the scorers for Spain were: Daura (3), Biel (3), Granados (2), Bustos (2), Valls, Larumbe, Sanahuja, Gomila, Valera, Sabadell, and Asensio.
Team USA’s scorers: R. Dodd 4, Saveljic 3, Vavic 2, Larsen 2, McFarland, Irving, C. Dodd 1.
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