FCBARCELONA.CAT

13.05.2007 17:24

A bitter sweet draw (29-29)

Meritxell Infante

Barça Cifec and Portland have drawn 29-29 in a game Barça dominated from start to finish. They can still achieve third place but it won’t be easy.

Barça Cifec had high hopes for the game against Portland and you couldn’t fault the players’ effort. They deserved to win but the final result against second-placed Portland leaves both teams dissatisfied. However, Barça, who are just one point behind Ademar, can still take third place.

100% effort from Barça

The Barça players were well prepared for the game and soon began to dominate. Barça’s accuracy in front of the Portland goal was in contrast to the Portland players, who missed a string of chances at the beginning of the game. Igor Vori provoked a lot of penalties, which were gratefully seized upon by Juanín García and Víctor Tomás from the 7 metre line. In the 19th minute, Barça managed a lead of 6 goals, their biggest of the game (12-5). However, Portland reacted in the last ten minutes of the first half and reduced Barça’s lead to 3 goals (15-12).

Second half more balanced

Portland committed fewer errors in the second half and gradually clawed their way back into the game. Ruesga and Rocas provided much of the danger for the visitors, scoring 7 goals each, and Portland eventually drew level. Iker Romero put Barça back in the lead but then Barça were weakened by the loss of two players with the score standing at 29-29. Víctor Tomás replaced Losert in goal in order to have an extra man in attack but Barça failed to score again and take the win they so richly deserved.