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Emanuela Karastoyanova

The game in water polo for the cup of Len Trophy ended with a European cup for the team of Greece and enormous Bengal lights. The game was played between the female teams of Ethnikos – Greece and Khanty Mansiysk – Russion in the closed pool of Piraeus in Athens. In a game, in which the agony and tension were present at all time, the team of Greece managed to win for the first time in its history such a high European position. In the game between the two teams a huge contribution had the goal keeper of the Greek team who managed to save two penalty shots in a very decisive moment…

In spite of their final victory in the beginning of the game the athletes from the team of Ethnikos did not show a strong game. They had problems with the defense and their attack was also not productive enough. In this way the first set ended with a one goal difference in favor of the guests. During the second and third set of the game the team managed to overcome its Russian opponent and even the score. The fourth set turned into a real battle field and the tension in the pool increased beyond measure. Both of the teams strongly desired the victory and started strong attacks. The final score of the set 3-2 brought a strong emotion for the athletes and the coaches of the teams as it meant a draw!

In this way the game was prolonged and for the final score the penalty shots turned out to be critical. The agony affected not just the athletes, but also the audience whose nerves were already at their end… The first penalty shot was taken by Russia, however it was unsuccessful – the Greek goal keeper managed to catch the ball. The continuance was lucky for the hosts – with the support of its fans the team of Ethnikos took the lead in the score by 4 – 1 and like this managed to win the European cup Len Trophy.

The game of Ethnikos with Khanty Manskiysk is the second game of the finals between the two teams. During the previous game with its Russian opponent the team of Ethnikos lost by 12 – 13. This evening it needed two goals in order to win the European title – a task which as difficult as it was the team managed to achieve.

Here is how the sets ended: 2-3, 1-1, 4-3, 3-2

Minutes from the extra time: 1-0, 2-2

Ethnikos: Tetsalidou, Fan Belkum, Kaneti, Kuiumdzi, Aroni, Bisba

Khanty Manskiysk: Timofeeva, Gritsenko, Klabukova, Tsebotova, Sorokina