Bad first time forEkipe Horizon. The in fact, the red and blues lose in front of the friendly public of Nesima Race 1 of the ffinal title of the women’s water polo championship.
It ends 8-9 for the Venetians who had the merit of playing an open challenge without thinking about the two defeats in the regular season matches against the Catania team, respecting the dictates given by coach Stefano Posterivo. That is, to play without awe and concentration. The Paduan team confirms that they are growing greatly this season after reaching the Italian Cup final, which they lost to Sis Roma, and the Len Euro Cup victory over Trieste last month. Cold in the decisive moments they had the Dutch Schaap and Millo as the best scorers who scored four and three times respectively.
Ekipe Orizzonte, on the other hand, was only seen at times, finding the key to the problem only in the second half but almost completely shutting down in the third and in the decisive moments. The only goal scored out of seven numerical superiorities collected weighs heavily.
Padova leads 1-0, on Saturday they have the match point at home
Saturday 18 May at 6.45pm, live on RaiSport, Race 2 in Padua which could already decide the fate of this Italian final. In the event of Plebiscito Padova’s victory, in fact, it would be the championship, the fifth, for the biancoscudate. With a victory for the Sicilians we would go to the match that would be played on Thursday 23 May in Catania, in Nesima.
The match, Ekipe Orizzonte chases at the start
The Ekipe Orizzonte team seen today suffered the start of their opponents and went behind three times due to Schaap’s goals, scoring twice, interspersed with Millo’s.
Rossazzurro poker and lead at half-time
The red and blues were only seen in the second set which saw them score four times and concede just one goal. Marletta, twice, Leone and Tabani almost at the end gave the Sicilians the illusion with the advantage of two goals at half time at 6-4.
Catania stumbles, Padova takes advantage of the opportunities
Then the team got stuck in attack. No goals in the third set which saw the guests equalize with Bacelle and Millo. In the fourth quarter we saw the return of Ekipe Orizzonte with Leone scoring at the start for the new, and final lead, at 7-6. Two penalties allow Schaap to first equalize and then overtake again at half-time. It takes an invention from Captain Palmieri to score in Bedouin for the hosts to temporarily draw. But 58 seconds from the final siren Queirolo finds the winning move to beat Condorelli.
Ekipe is unable to find the right momentum and the final attack is unsuccessful: the ball five seconds from the end goes to Padova who celebrates and goes on to lead the championship final 1-0.
The scoreboard
Ekipe Orizzonte-Plebiscito Padova 8-9
Partial: 2-3; 4-1; 0-2; 2-3
Ekipe Horizon: L. Celona, C. Tabani 1, T. Di Mario, G. Viacava, V. Gant, D. Bettini 1, V. Palmieri 1, C. Marletta 2, G. Gagliardi, M. Borisova, A. Longo, M. Leone 3, G. Condorelli, T. Lombardo. Trainer Martina Miceli
Plebiscite Padua: L. Teani, E. Bacelle 1, B. Cassara’, M. Schaap 4, E. Queirolo 1, A. Casson, A. Millo 3, A. Yaacobi, Y. Al Masri, C. Meggiato, V. Sgro ‘, A. Grigolon, E. Pozzani, S. Proietti. Trainer Stefano Posterivo
Referees: Ferrari and Calabrò
Note. Approximately 500 spectators. Numerical superiorities: Catania 1/7 + 1 penalty, Padova 3/7 + 4 penalties. No exit due to foul limit.
Scudetto final, the programme
Race 1, Wednesday 15 May at 6.45pm
- Ekipe Orizzonte-Plebiscito Padova 8-9
Race 2, Saturday 18 May at 6.45pm
- Padua-Ekipe Orizzonte plebiscite
Possible Race 3, Thursday 23 May at 6.45pm
- Ekipe Orizzonte-Plebiscito Padova.
