Olympiacos is the new king of Europe in women waterpolo! The Greeks defeated current champions Sabadell Spain by 10-9 on their first women Euroleague Final of their history!
A nervous beginning in the match left both teams with no score for 6 minutes, until Anna Espar Llaquet scored from perimeter for Sabadell. Tough defenses from both sides, especially from the Spanish team, stopped the rhythm of the match. Reds were nervous and stressed till halftime and Sabadell, playing smartly, achieved a great percentage on extra player, scoring 2 goals on 2 attempts and a 4-3 lead after second period.
Olympiacos returned to the match and tied it in third period, finding clever ways to score five goals, while goalkeeper Diamantopoulou made some impressive saves. Spanish players were astonished while crowd cheered to deaf everyone in “Petros Kapagerof” Swimming Pool. Ashleigh Southern, host’s Australian player, made her fourth goal, while Sabadell’s wings did a great job and regained lead. Two goals from Filio Manolioudaki, obviously Final’s MVP, gave the Trophy and all its glory to Olympiacos!
European Champions, Sabadell Spain, failed to gain their 4th Euroleague Final and 3rd in a row during last five years, but clearly they still remain a dynasty. But Olympiacos may be the next one soon!
1st Period (2-1)
1-0, 01.27 6-on-6, no3 ESPAR LLAQUET Anna
1-1, 00.47 on extra player, no10 SOUTHERN Ashleigh Grace
2-1, 00.24 6-on-6, no12 FORCA ARIZA Judith
2nd Period (2-2)
3-1, 05.34 on extra player, no3 ESPAR LLAQUET Anna
4-1, 02.34 on extra player, no8 GARCIA GODOY Maria del Carmen
4-2, 01.02 on extra player, no5 MANOLIOUDAKI Triantafyllia (captain)
4-3, 00.15 6-on-6, no8 PLEVRITOU Margarita
3rd Period (3-5)
5-3, 06.43, 6-on-6, no11 DOMENECH MORALES Olga (captain)
5-4, 06.22, 6-on-6, no11 BIANCONI Roberta
Yellow card to Olympiacos Coach from the referees
5-5, 05.20 on extra player, no10 SOUTHERN Ashleigh Grace
5-6, 03.31 on extra player, no6 AVRAMIDOU Alkisti
6-6, 02.50 on extra player, no12 FORCA ARIZA Judith
6-7, 01.35 on extra player, no10 SOUTHERN Ashleigh Grace
6-8, 00.27, 6-on-6, no10 SOUTHERN Ashleigh Grace
7-8, 00.18, 6-on-6,no12 FORCA ARIZA Judith
4th Period (2-2)
8-8, 07.33, 6-on-6,no6 PAREJA LISALDE Jennifer
9-8 05.14 on extra player, no6 PAREJA LISALDE Jennifer
9-9, 03.58, 6-on-6, no5 MANOLIOUDAKI Triantafyllia (captain)
9-10, 00.33 on extra player, no5 MANOLIOUDAKI Triantafyllia (captain)
Statistics
Sabadell
6-on-6, 5 goals
Extra player, 4 goals on 7 attempts
Olympiacos
6-on-6, 4 goals
Extra player, 6 goals on 9 attempts
CN Sabadell
Coach: VIDAL GUIU Ignasi
1 ESTER RAMOS Laura
2 ORTIZ REYES Matilde
3 ESPAR LLAQUET Anna 2 goals
4 GENEE Dagmar Rixt
5 ABELLAN VALLE Carla
6 PAREJA LISALDE Jennifer 2 goals
7 CORDOBES NAVARRO Marina
8 GARCIA GODOY Maria del Carmen 1 goal
9 PEÑA CARRASCO Maria del Pilar
10 SEIDEMANN Melissa
11 DOMENECH MORALES Olga (captain)1 goal
12 FORCA ARIZA Judith 3 goals
13 SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Maria Elena
Olympiacos
Coach: Pavlides Theocharis
1 DIAMANTOPOULOU Chrysoula
2 TETZALIDOU Evdokia
3 PLEVRITOU Eleftheria
4 SORA Maria
5 MANOLIOUDAKI Triantafyllia (captain) 3 goals
6 AVRAMIDOU Alkisti 1 goal
7 ASIMAKI Alexandra
8 PLEVRITOU Margarita 1 goal
9 KALOGERAKOU Michaela Vasiliki
10 SOUTHERN Ashleigh Grace 4 goals
11 BIANCONI Roberta 1 goal
12 NIARCHAKOU Virginia Panagiota
13 STAMATOPOULOU Ioanna
Referees: Mrs. Ursula WENGENROTH MARTUNELLI (SUI) / Mr. Alessandro SEVERO (ITA)
