This week’s series of games in the LEN competitions finished this evening, with the encounter between Terrassa – Enka Istanbul in the 1st leg of the LEN Challenger Cup semifinals.
It was a „crazy game“, with many ups and downs. In the end, Terrassa recorded a 3-goal win (15:12).
Yesterday, Tenerife beat Apollon Smyrnis 11:10 in the first semifinal match.
2022/23 LEN Challenger Cup, Semifinals, 1st leg
Terrassa – Enka Istanbul 15:12 (5:1, 4:6, 2:3, 4:2)
Terrassa: Flores 5, Delgado 4, De Lera 3, Alarcon 2, Sanchez 1.
Enka Istanbul: Ozbek 3, Alkan 2, Dueznli 2, Ergin 2, Obradovic 2, Kahraman 1
Terrassa ruled the field for more than a quarter. The hosts led 5:0 in the 7th minute and had a 7:1 advantage three minutes later. It seemed that the Terrassa would secure a spot in the final already after the first match.
But Enka produced a 6:2 run within five minutes and reduced the gap to two (7:9) before the middle break.
Terrassa’a Ricard Alarcon converted a man-up in the first possession in the third period for 10:7. Still, Enka was coming closer and closer. The Turkish club cut the deficit to one goal (9:10, 10:11). At the beginning of the final period, Croatian veteran Paulo Obradovic found the net in an extra-player attack and the visitors leveled at 11:11.
In the following two minutes and a half, Terrasa gained a 13:11 lead. Enka cut the deficit again (12:13), but Terrassa closed the game with two goals and earned a 3-goal advantage before the next 32 minutes. But, considering what Enka showed today, three goals aren’t a significant advantage.
LEN Challenger Cup, semifinals, 1st leg
Tenerife – Apollon Smyrnis 11:10
Terrassa – Enka Istanbul 15:12
The return matches are on March 22.