Hungerit-Szentes win bronze in the women’s LEN Cup
László Tóth’s side began poorly, opponents Uralochka Zlatoust leading 14-10 in the final quarter before an amazing comeback saw Szentes draw level. Flóra Bolonyai starred in the penalty shoot-out, saving twice as Szentes went one better than last year and repeated their 2011 and 2012 bronze medal finishes.
“Let’s just not start as badly as we did against Vouliagmeni”, had been the Szentes wish in the build-up to the match, referring to them falling 6-1 behind to the Greeks in the semi-final. Hopes had been high of returning home from Mataro with a medal and Szentes were not to be disappointed. Again the start was far from ideal, the team conceding 8 goals in the first quarter thanks to some poor defending; the Szentes attack meanwhile, kept them in the hunt as Szentes finished the first quarter 4-8 down.
Szentes slowly began to assert themselves, the second quarter finishing 3-3 and the third 3-2, before a final rally in the fourth saw them draw level just when it seemed time might run out. A penalty shoot-out followed, Flóra Bolonyai saving two throws as Szentes held their nerve to triumph 4-1.
“The start? It’s difficult to dress it up, suffice to say that it was even worse than it was on Friday” admitted head coach László Tóth. “I don’t understand what happened; we were lethargic, timid, too easily turned. I’ll be honest; I wasn’t too polite in letting the girls know what I thought during the first break. Whether this had an effect or whether it was something else doesn’t matter. What is important is that everything changed. We began to play, eventually found our courage and warmed to the task. We improved slowly but surely and in the end managed to level the scores with a wonderful last quarter. I was relaxed before the penalties because I saw that Flóra was ready. It was a horrible match to watch; it would appear this is how we like to play – no one seems to care if they give me a heart attack in the process. I’m happy to have gone one better than last year’s fourth place and win a medal. We can now build upon this success as we prepare for the championship semi-finals”.
Result – Women’s Len Trophy, Final Four, Mataro:
3rd/4th place playoff:
Hungerit-Szentesi VK 14–14 Uralochka Zlatoust (Russia) (4–8, 3–3, 3–2, 4–1) – penalty shoot-out: 4–1
Goalscorers: SZEN: Kövér-Kis 6, Bujka 5, Miskolczi 3, Hevesi 2, Gémes 2; URAL: Karimova 5, Gorbunova 3, Bersneva 2, Kolmakova 2, Abdriziakova, Gerzanich, Isakova
Final:
Vouliagmeni (Greece) 5–6 CN Mataro (Spain) (3–2, 0–2, 2–1, 0–1)
Source: http://waterpolo.hu/ – Press release