Spanish sport already has another page of gold, and in this case it is provided by water polo, the most successful team sport. For the first time in history, two teams from the same country will compete for the Champions League title. CN Sabadell, who had beaten Orizzonte Catania with suffering (13-12) in the first semifinal played in Can Llong, is joined by CN Mataró, who reached the top of this competition after an authoritarian match against Hungarian Dunaujvaros (12-9), which he handcuffed from start to finish with a very high game pace and a defense that bordered, at times, perfection. Sabadell and Mataró, old rivals in the Division of Honor, will now face each other in the final of the finals (5:30 p.m., Teledeporte/Esport3).
From the instability of CN Sabadell, capable of conceding 0-3 partials and suddenly turning the game around, to the power hammer of CN Mataró. Dani Ballart’s warriors enjoy every defensive action throughout the match, without breaks or truces, as if they were facing an open water event at the pace of a 400 swimmer. Despite conceding the first goal, the work of Krisztina Garda in the first superiority, afterwards the Hungarians no longer saw the door. Either by the hands of Maria Elena Sánchez, by the anticipations of the marathoners or by her neatness when defending without exclusions. In attack, the tactics and talent of Vivian Sevenich, Rita Kaszthleyi and Anni Espar came out, who converted a penalty to put a hopeful 3-1 lead.
But there is no easy game in a four-way final, and the Budapest team, which is not fighting for the title in the Hungarian league, has attacking players capable of scoring at any time, to which is added the level of their goalkeeper, the Dutchman Laura Aarts. It seemed that Mataró was escaping with goals from Sevenich and Espar, with a more decisive role in Ballart’s team, but Dunaujvaros once again put the distance of two with an inspired Garda and with the contribution of superiority from Dorina Dobi. Silvia Morell made it 6-4 but countered with her third Garda goal. Sevenich, after a suspension and on the verge of relegation, scored 7-4. Halfway through, Mataró looked the best to meet CN Sabadell.
The Catalan team was filing minute by minute the morale of a Dunaujvaros who had arrived in Sabadell the night before, aware that he did not have many options in this Champions League. Anni Espar scored a great goal to make it 8-4, but Szabo kept the lead by three. If it wasn’t for the Dutch goalkeeper of the Hungarian team, Mataró would have resolved the match much sooner. The Spanish barely conceded in defense, who saw through Kastzhelyi how Avegno appeared with a minute to go in the third quarter with a clear 10-5 lead. With everything already decided, Ballart was even able to regulate the time of his players more. The last quarter was a process until the final score. Those from Maresme only granted five exclusions and were able to celebrate the ticket ahead of time (12-9).
The duels between Sabadell and Mataró are high-voltage, even, like the one that was played recently in the final of the Copa de la Reina that fell on Mataró’s side. Those from Maresme know that this is their chance, the Vallesanas want the sixth. Friends out of the water who this Saturday will ‘kill’ for the yellow ball over the crystalline pool of Can Llong, capital of the aquatic world once again.
“It is a pride after a very long road”
CN Mataró fulfilled the forecasts and got rid of Dunaujvaros in Budapest 12-9. Cristina Nogué, the buoy for Dani Ballart’s team, commented that “we knew what we had to do, we had very clear guidelines”. The Spanish international commented that “we have won ten matches in this tournament but now the really important one remains.”
At the same time, Dani Ballart, who recognized that after the first quarter they knew how to face the match and that in the last quarter they “managed” themselves, puffed up the party that will take place this Saturday: “It’s another great world water polo show. It is a pride of a path that began with the Mediterrani, continued with Sabadell and now we are here too. We look at their faces”.
The coach downplayed resting less than the women from Valles and also the game plan and preparation: “It’s not necessary, we train many days and we’ve played many times. It’s a day to enjoy, but we want to be European champions.”