Spain raises the curtain in Torrevieja with a solid victory (39-29) against Tunisia and a stellar Silvia Navarro
MADRID, 29 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish women’s handball team debuted this Friday with a resounding victory against Tunisia (39-29) on the first day of the XXV International Women’s Handball Tournament of Spain, a promising start to the set-up for the European Championship.
The ‘Guerreras’, carried on wings by the fans of the Palacio de los Deportes de Torrevieja, unbalanced the game in the second half, with a stellar Silvia Navarro under sticks, who was also named MVP of the match. Those of José Ignacio Prades are already working for the first time ahead of the European Championship that begins next week and this Saturday they will seek to confirm it against Egypt.
The match started tight, with the Tunisian team very aggressive on the defensive side. Spain struck first with a blow from Shandy Barbosa, but the Tunisians, led by the baton of Amal Hamrouni, did not wrinkle. The first quarters, favorable to Spain, allowed them to maintain short rents (5-3).
The Tunisians were not intimidated and, despite Maddi Aalla’s stretches, managed to tie the score (6-6). The Spanish attack was not comfortable, finding its best weapons in the penetrations of Shandy Barbosa and Carmen Campos in the first half and, with the entry of Paula Arcos, allowed Spain to put in another gear, growing, as usual, from the defense (11-10).
As a result of the Spanish change of rhythm, the visitors began to doubt. The ‘Guerreras’ smelled blood and went on a 5-0 run, punishing every rival mistake with precise and lethal counter-attacks (16-11). Thus, the Spanish pressed in the final minutes of the first half to maintain a lead of 4 goals at the break (17-13).
José Ignacio Prades then introduced variants in his scheme in the second half and began to distribute minutes among the squad to test different systems. However, Tunisia’s goalkeeper and captain, Fadia Omrani, made things difficult for the Spanish team, but the lead did not drop below four goals in the first set after the restart (20-16).
With an impenetrable central defense commanded by Lysa Tchaptchet and Alba Spugnini and an inspired Silvia Navarro (5 consecutive stops), the ‘Guerreras’ shook up the game. A run of 7-0 (25-16) struck down the African team, which was unable to penetrate the Spanish goal for almost 10 minutes.
Counterattacks from Ester Arrojeria, Shandy Barbosa and Sole López practically sentenced the match. The mattress of 9 goals seemed insurmountable for a Tunisia that, however, did not give up. The final stretch of the match passed without a hitch for the Spanish team, who managed their advantage without problems to clinch the victory (39-29).
DATASHEET:
–RESULT: SPAIN, 39 – TUNISIA, 29.
–EQUIPMENT:
SPAIN: Silvia Navarro (p), Mercedes Castellanos (p) and Maddi Aalla (p), Carmen Campos (4), Esther Arrojeria (3), Jennifer Gutierrez (4), Maitane Etxeberria (4), Lara Gonzalez, Alba Spugnini (1), Soledad Lopez (4), Kaba Gassama (1), Alicia Fernandez (2), Irene Espinola (3), Paula Valdivia (2), Lysa Tchaptchet (2), Paula Arcos (6) and Shandy Barbosa (7). . . . .
TÚNEZ: Omaina Gdoura (p), Fadia Omrani (p) y Roa Mkadem (p), Aya Ben Abdullah (5), Fatma Bouri (1), Ons Yaacoub, Amal Hamrouni (1), Rakia Rezgui, Fadwa Aouij (1) , Salma Ben Hassine, Sondes Hachana (3), Maroua Dhaouadi (5), Aya Masri (1), Nada Zelfani (1), Roa Mkadem, Mariem Gmar, Boutheina Amiche (3), Oumayma Dardour (3) y Soumaya Belhadj.
–PARTIALS EVERY FIVE MINUTES: 3:2, 5:3, 6:6, 10:9, 13:11, 17:13 -break-; 20:16, 23:16, 25:18, 31:22; 36:27 and 39:29.
–REFEREES: Aritz Zaragueta Ruiz and Raúl Oyarzun Aylagas.
–PAVILION: Sports Palace of Torrevieja.