There is a different gene at CN Sabadell, which allows it to rebel against adversity to get the best out of itself. His ability to dance on the wire, on the rope that is held miles from the ground, is worth studying. “It’s a gene, they fought tooth and nail, they have internalized it”David Palma, the coach, defined it. “Before the last quarter we said, ‘one more goal is not going to come in here'”, analyzed Bea Ortiz, author of three key goals. And so, with that unique spirit, CN Sabadell defeated Orizzonte Catania (13-12) in an agonizing finale and slipped into a new Champions League final (Saturday, 5:30 p.m.). They are chasing their sixth title. Mataró or Dunaujvaros, the rival (today the semifinal at 20:00).
Orizzonte Catania, invincible at the beginning of the century, was a tough threat to the next dominant team in the kingdom of Europe, CN Sabadell. From the first bars, the equality on the scoreboard was appreciated and each action was a small battle won, one step closer to victory. The hosts started ahead with a goal from Maggie Steffens, who received a pass in a buoy position and did not forgive (1-0). Maica García made it 2-0 but the Italian goal Condorelli undid the opportunity to open the first gap. That energy was used by Orizzonte to turn it around with goals from Bettini and Marletta (1-2). Van der Sloot equalized from a penalty (2-2). In that first quarter, CN Sabadell showed its difficulty in attacking superiority, without success in its two actions.
The instability was the protagonist of an inexplicable second quarter, where CN Sabadell was on the ropes and finally ended up equalizing (6-6) before the break with a goal from Irene González after two failed attempts. Before that, in two minutes of bewilderment, the Italians put themselves three goals ahead. Viacova, from the buoy and in superiority, finished off a pass from the right, while just after Williams and Bettini, from two outside shots, they surpassed a Laura Ester who could not deflect the close shots (2-5). Far from panicking, supported by the gorges that gradually filled Can Llong, CN Sabadell turned it around with goals from Bea Ortiz, Judit Forca and a magnificent reverse from a multipurpose Steffens. The party did not give up.
Irene herself, who had closed the second quarter, opened the third with a beautiful Vaseline that put those of David Palma (7-6) for the second time in the match. But nothing was going to be easy. The figure of Bronte Halligan emerged with two goals from the right position of the attack to put the 7-8 again and so a third part was happening in which CN Sabadell showed its fragility in defense, with goals to Ester from all angles, and its resistance in attack, where they added Bea Ortiz, Forca and again Van der Sloot penalty after a skilful movement by Leitón. The final quarter was reached with a 10-11 for the Italians, more balanced until this last part of the match.
Everything changed in that room. CN Sabadell, which was failing in “the blocks”, as Palma said, made an even greater effort. “We emptied ourselves,” Ortiz said. The minutes passed and the international herself, named the best player in Europe in 2022, scored 11-11. Maica García finished off an assist from the right from the buoy position and when she emerged from the water she screamed in Condorelli’s face. The cry of victory. I don’t know if that gesture had a deterrent effect on the Italians, but the next two pitches went to Laura Ester’s hands, which she parried when she touched. Forca, with Vaseline, and with a minute and a half left, scored the 11-13 while Catania sold their skin dearly with the 13-12. The Italians, who had a goal disallowed earlier, did not manage the last attack with talent. His coach was screaming on the wing, after a match where he had five more exclusions (15) than a CN Sabadell who half celebrated the first part of his goal. Again their gene took them to another final. Party in Can Llong.
“We put a gear more”
The measured euphoria of CN Sabadell after the game was also noted in the first statements in the mixed zone. Bea Ortiz, who scored three goals and was one of the most outstanding players, explained the match this way: “We knew they were a very strong opponent, who had just won the Cup. But we controlled the game, we kept calm when they were ahead and That was the key. We knew that in the last quarter we had to put in one more gear, otherwise we wouldn’t win, and that’s how it was.”
David Palma was also happy, acknowledging that “if we played the final like this against Mataró we wouldn’t win”. The coach acknowledged that “we weren’t good in defence, I think we slowed down the inside game very well but we didn’t block in the best way. That mortgaged the match for us.” But, finally, they managed to win the match and go to the final: “The players have experience, they have internalized that resistance,” he concluded.