MADRID, 5 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish women’s handball team fell (20-19) to hosts Portugal in the final of the Batalha tournament this Sunday, the close match of three set-up matches at the Pavilhao Gimnodesportivo in the Portuguese town.
After the victories against Cape Verde and Italy on Friday and Saturday, José Ignacio Prades’ men did their best in a tough match, with the forces already somewhat fair in both teams. The ‘Warriors’ put the first income on the scoreboard (4-8) but they did not have their best day either in attack or defense.
Portugal put into play a great defense and the game was even in the second half, with a short score of 9-10. The expulsion of María Gomes complicated the Spanish role and Portugal took advantage of it to take command with great work from its goalkeeper.
The bad news for Spain continued with the injury of Jennifer Gutiérrez, in an even finish that narrowly escaped those of Prades, although Esther Arrojería was named MVP of the tournament. Spain tuned in Portuguese lands for the ‘playoff’ in April against Austria for a ticket to the 2023 World Cup.
“It’s not the finish that we all wanted or the one we expected, but it should be a learning game for the future and immediately for the playoff against Austria. The effectiveness percentage has been the lowest of the three games and that condemns a lot, above all, in the error in front of goal”, Prades said in statements provided by the RFEBM.
“We weren’t able to make up for it with good defensive work either, when it had been like that in the first half. Portugal did things well, they were very correct and very intense and they won the game. A day to learn and draw conclusions and prepare for what comes in April,” he added.