MADRID, Sep. 5 (.) –
The Spanish women’s water polo team will fight for the medals once again in the European Championship that is being held in Split (Croatia) after clearly beating Hungary 11-15 in the quarterfinals on Monday.
The team led by Miki Oca, current continental champion and who will seek the final against the Netherlands, had a great game in which they were always able to go ahead, taking advantage of their first great period, where they got an advantage that they did not let slip and that even allowed him to live a ‘quiet’ end of the match.
The Spanish showed that they have taken the measure of the Hungarians in recent years and dominated the match, suffering only in the second period, in which their rival was superior and gave the feeling that they were going to press things until the end.
After a start marked by the defenses and the lack of success, but as soon as Paula Leitón opened the scoring, Spain no longer lost the initiative. Two goals from Bea Ortiz gave her a good 4-1 lead at the end of the first period to give the second, of light Magyar color. The Hungarian team reacted and managed to equalize the clash, but a goal from Paula Prat in the final moments allowed Miki Oca’s team to go ahead.
After the short break, the current champion came out again very focused, especially after Elena Ruiz was right as soon as the match resumed to open up the advantage a little more. Hungary kept trying, but Leitón did damage with two consecutive actions to reward the good defensive attitude and provoke another positive escape.
The accuracy in attack had returned, as reflected by the six goals in this period, which allowed Spain to face the last quarter with a long way to go (12-8). The scoreboard narrowed dangerously (12-10), but the team knew how to have peace of mind not to give up any more. Maica García, with a great goal, sentenced and avoided the final tension.
