The big match on Day 13 of the Spanish Championships didn’t disappoint water polo lovers.
An encounter between Terrassa and Mataro offered a lot of excitement and a hard battle until the very end. Terrassa emerged as a winner in this thriller thanks to a last-gasp goal (12:11).
Other games had produced expected outcomes, even though some favorites had ups and downs in the 13th round.
2022/23 Spanish League, Day 13
Terrassa – Mataro 12:11 (4:1, 3:3, 3:4, 2:3)
Terrassa: Delgado 5, Flores 2, Alarcon 2, Flores 2, De Lera 1, Chico 1.
Mataro: Andrade 3, Cuacos 3, Negus 2, Flaque 1, Schofield 1.
Barceloneta – Sant Andreu 16:6 (5:2, 4:0, 2:2, 5:2)
Barceloneta: Pavillard 3, Fernandez 3, Matkovic 2, Paul 2, De Toro 1, Tahull 1, Perrone 1, Biel 1, Bustos 1, Famera 1.
Sant Andreu: Yanez 3, Arizaga 1, Tenorio 1, Frigola 1.
Sabadell – Real Canoe 20:7 (5:3, 7:2, 3:0, 5:2)
Sabadell: Bertran 4, Gil 3, D.Banicevic 3, Cabanas 2, Sanahuja 1, Veich 1, Blasco 1, Bonet 1, Bustos 1.
Real Canoe: A. Jimenez 2, M.J. Gonzalez 2, J. Jimenez 1, V.Fernandez 1, Barba 1.
Catalunya – Barcelona 11:15 (6:5, 2:2, 1:5, 2:3)
Catalunya: Sousa 4, S.Gonzalez 2, Lopez-Escribano 2, Gomez 2 Alvarino 1.
Barcelona: Asensio 4, Valls 3, Goma 3, Cupido 2, G.Garcia 1, Ramon 1, O.Aguirre 1.
Mediterrani – Rubi 12:9 (4:1, 3:3, 2:3, 3:2)
Mediterrani: A. Garcia 3, Radic 2, Linares 2, Prat 2, McQuet 1, J.Perez 1, Pueyo 1.
Rubi: Martins 3, Kuznetsov 2, Andion 1, Carrasco 1,Meijas 1, Moyano 1.
Caballa – Tenerife 10:14 (3:5, 1:3, 4:4, 2:2)
Caballa: F.Molina 3, Matoso 2, S. Fernandez 2, Takacs 1, Leona 1, Pardon 1.
Tenerife: Alegre 9, Salvador 2, Magrina 1, Espanol 1, Mercado 1.
Terrassa edged out Mataro in the most exciting match of the day. The beginning of the game didn’t indicate that the encounter would enter an exciting finish. In the middle of the second quarter, Terrassa had a huge 7:2 advantage. At the finish of the third period, the hosts had a solid 10:7 lead. But Mataro fought hard. Forty seconds before the end, Cuacos converted a penalty and leveled the score at 11:11. Still, the home side had the last laugh – Adria Delgado netted his fifth goal with 18 seconds left on the clock to give Terrassa a 12:11 victory.
Reigning champion Barceloneta and the league-leader Sabadell contained their series of convincing wins.
Catalunya surprised Barcelona in the first half. The team that is in 9th place had a 2-goal lead three times during the first two periods (4:2, 7:5, 8:6). Barcelona took control after the hosts’ eighth goal. The visitors produced a 4:0 run to earn a 10:8 lead (22nd minute). Barcelona doubled its advantage at the beginning of the fourth quarter and maintained the difference until the end.
An encounter between Caballa and Tenerife was a one-man show. Victor Alegre found the net nine times (!) in Tenerife’s 14:10 victory. The visitors from the Canary Islands were 8:4 up at halftime. In the second half of the match, Caballa halved the deficit (8:10). But Tenerife rebuilt a four-goal lead before the final break (12:8) and avoided a thrilling finish.
Mediterrani defeated Rubi. The first 12 minutes were crucial for Mediterrani’s victory. In the middle of the second period, the hosts were five steps ahead of their rival (6:1). Still, Rubi was able to come back. Early in the fourth period, the visitors cut the deficit to one (8:9). Mediterrani responded with two goals to go to 11:8 and kept a 3-goal advantage.
1.Sabadell 13 games – 13 wins
2. Barceloneta 13 – 12
3. Terrassa 13 – 10
4. Barcelona 13 – 10
5. Mataro 13 – 8
6. Tenerife 13 – 7
7. Mediterrani 13 – 6
8. Sant Andreu 13 – 5
9. Catalunya 13 – 4
10. Real 13 – 2
11. Caballa 13 – 1
12. Rubi 13 – 0
