The legend of Miki Oca’s aquatic warriors is forged in heroic matches such as third and fourth place at the Doha World Cup. Spain won bronze, its 13th medal in history, by defeating Greece in an incredible ending, like a thriller, with a goal in the last second by Elena Ruiz.
The Spanish team, very emotionally affected by the defeat against the United States and the accumulated fatigue, suffered to defeat the Hellenic team after leading 9-6 with 5 minutes remaining and conceding a 0-3.
With this new success, there are now 13 medals for Spain in women’s water polo, 12 of them achieved with Miki Oca since 2010. That is, 12 metals in 18 major championships (European, World Cup and Olympic Games) in 14 years. Who gives more?
Spain’s precedent against Greece was recent and eloquent: 16-8 in the group stage. And in a duel with medals at stake it was also favorable, since the warriors took the gold at the 2022 European Championship in Split (9-6). But on this occasion, the tables had changed: the Hellenic team came to the fight for the metal (bronze) with more hunger and need, with qualification for Paris at stake. And Spain, somewhat downcast, with the setback of the defeat against the United States that deprived it of the final.
The warriors needed to rediscover their best version, devastated by the American wave. And, above all, recover their references, the old guard, the Anni Espar, Maica García, Bea Ortiz or Judith Forca, who disappeared against the USA. Against Greece they took a step forward: among the three CN Sabadell players, Forca , Ortiz and García, carried the team on their backs and led them to victory with their goals.
The Spanish team started with a left-footed shot from Forca that opened the score, but the warriors got stuck in an unproductive game, without success in the superiorities, and they also conceded a goal from Margarita Plevritou. It had to be Bea Ortiz who broke the logjam with a long shot to close the first quarter with an advantage (2-1).
Equality prevailed in the second quarter, in which Spain settled better and gained confidence by leading two goals (4-2) through Forca and Maica García, which added to the rebirth of the veterans. Greece did not let up and responded with a 0-2 by Xenaki and Eleftheria Plevritou to tie (4-4). But Bea Ortiz, in a spectacular counter, and Paula Crespí maintained the advantage at halftime (6-5).
The warriors needed to distance themselves to finish the duel, which involved consolidating the defense and getting their superiority right. Paula Camus returned the 2nd with a great goal from the buoy, after a masterful assist from Anni Espar (7-5), and Martina Terré saved a penalty to stop Greece. But Xenaki made it 7-6 with 45 seconds left. In attack, Spain remained dazed, with stiff arms, with a very poor 0 of 5 in the third quarter. So everything was at stake in the last 8 minutes.
In the last quarter, Judith Forca provided the necessary calm with a penalty goal (8-6) and Paula Leitón seemed to break the score with a 3 from the buoy (9-6) with 6m27s remaining.
But it was a mirage, because Greece did not let go of the dam and clung to its last options. Two goals in a row in one minute, from Eleftheria Plevritou and Ninou, put them in the game (9-8) with 4 minutes left, and Ninou tied with a penalty (9-9), completing a significant 0-3 with 2m50s left that It left Spain on the ropes, distraught.
Maica García had 10-9 in her hand with 1m15s left, but Diamantopoulo stopped her, and Martina Terré stopped the Greek attack with 50s left. Spain would have one last chance with 43 seconds left on the clock, and with Greece without its starting goalkeeper, injured in the stop on Maica. The ball circulated looking for the double buoy, but Greece closed well.
New timeout for Oca with 23 seconds left to mount the last attack in search of the goal. Judith Forca had the final shot, heeling into the cork, but Stamatopoulou stopped it with 7 seconds remaining.
Greece called for time, attacked without a goalkeeper, counterfoiled and Spain recovered, with 2 seconds on the scoreboard. At the last second, from the center of the pool, Elena Ruiz caught the ball that no one wanted and scored with a long shot to give the bronze in an incredible ending, like a thriller, to keep Spain on the podium of success.
