Catalunya claimed a dominant 14-9 win over fellow Spanish side Zodiac CNAB in the first leg of the women’s Euro Cup final. A 5-0 run across the middle periods and an outstanding display from Laura Aarts in goal proved decisive, with Barceloneta held to just three second-half goals.
2025/26 Euro Cup Women
Final, Leg 1
Wednesday 27 May
20:30: EPlus CN Catalunya (ESP) 14-9 Zodiac CNAB (ESP)
(3-3, 6-3, 3-1, 2-2)
Leg 2: Wednesday 3 June
The players didn’t hold anything back in the opening quarter of the all-Spanish clash. CNAB took the lead twice, but Lucia Gomez struck twice within a minute from the perimeter to help make it 3-2 to the hosts.
Cristina Nogue netted her second from the centre to level at 3-3, and that was how it remained at the end of the period after CNAB’s Bianca Colominas saved Emmerson Houghton’s penalty with 22 seconds on the clock.
That miss became even more painful for Catalunya as, exactly 22 seconds into the second quarter, Alejandra Aznar converted a Barceloneta penalty for 3-4.
However, this time it was Laura Ferrer who responded with back-to-back goals within a minute to swing the momentum back in the home side’s favour.
Mariona Viladot equalised, but once again the long-range shooting proved decisive at the other end. Belen Vosseberg and Julia Frigola both found the net within 46 seconds to hand Catalunya a two-goal advantage for the first time (7-5).
The lead grew to three before half-time. After Luna Vara pulled one back, Gomez produced two more goals – one from a six-on-five and then a buzzer-beater from action – for a 9-6 scoreline at the long break.
Scoring six times in the second period gave Catalunya a huge lift, and not even a missed extra disrupted their momentum early in the third.
They earned a penalty on the next possession and Ruth Arino made no mistake, before Houghton added another strike from distance just 41 seconds later, prompting an emergency time-out from CNAB coach Chus Martin with their rivals fully in control at 11-6.
At least Barceloneta’s defence tightened up somewhat, but offensively they were unable to find a breakthrough.
It was the usual magic from Laura Aarts, the European champion Netherlands goalkeeper, who not only delivered save after save, but also seemed to get inside the attackers’ minds.
While CNAB missed two extras, Ona Tarrino converted one for 12-6, and Aarts denied a penalty soon after.
Before the hosts’ collapse could turn into a scoreless quarter, Nerea Martin finally scored from a six-on-five with two seconds remaining to end Barceloneta’s drought after 11:38 minutes without a goal.
The fourth period then brought renewed tension to the pool. A hotly debated penalty was awarded after the whistle came almost simultaneously with the shot clock horn signalling the end of possession.
To make matters worse for the hosts, Aarts saved the penalty, but Elena Flynn reacted quickest to score the rebound.
That shifted the momentum somewhat, as Flynn added another from a six-on-five just 31 seconds later, with CNAB suddenly appearing to build momentum after three consecutive goals.
However, the surge proved short-lived. Ruth Arino somehow forced the ball into the net from Catalunya’s next extra, restoring control and putting the match firmly back on the course established during the middle two periods.
With 4:35 remaining, Georgina Bellido converted another six-on-five for 14-9, while Aarts once again dominated between the posts.
The Dutch star denied CNAB in two further six-on-fives to preserve the five-goal margin – a highly promising result for Catalunya ahead of next week’s second leg.
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Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics
