Heartbreak for Ekipe Orizzonte: A Thrilling 11-9 Showdown Ends in Champions League Defeat to Ferencvaros!

The opening skirmish of the Champions League quarter-finals saw Ekipe Orizzonte face off against Hungary's Ferencvaros, with the latter edging away with a narrow victory of 11-9 at the Nesima pool in Catania. Despite the defeat, the result keeps the hopes of the Catanian side alive as they gaze towards the return leg. It was a tightly contested affair right from the get-go, with the first quarter concluding in a deadlock at 3-3. The home side took the initiative in the second period, only for Ferencvaros to come back and snatch a 3-2 win. The Hungarian side maintained their momentum in the third quarter, outscoring their hosts 2-1, while the final section ended once again in a 3-3 stalemate. Dafne Bettini was the standout performer for Ekipe Orizzonte, netting three goals, supported by Robin Jutte, Giulia Viacava, Charlize Andrews, Chiara Tabani, Gaia Gagliardi, and Aurora Longo, who each added a goal apiece. Before the match kicked off, Ekipe Orizzonte's president paid tribute to Valeria Palmieri, a former stalwart of the Catanian team and now with Ferencvaros, presenting her with flowers for her 14 years of dedicated service. Post-match, Tania Di Mario reflected on the contest, acknowledging, “We didn’t play badly, but there’s certainly room for improvement. There are positives to take away, and we know we can turn this around. The home or away aspect matters little; it’s about executing our game on the day. Now, our focus shifts to the encounter on the 29th as we push on.” The return leg against Ferencvaros is set for next Saturday in Budapest, with the whistle blowing at 19:15. **Match Summary:** Ekipe Orizzonte - Ferencvaros 9-11 Quarters: 3-3; 2-3; 1-2; 3-3 Ekipe Orizzonte: Celona, Halligan 1, Jutte 1, Viacava 1, Giuffrida, Bettini 3, Andrews 1, Tabani 1, Gagliardi 1, Hardy, Longo 1, Leone, Condorelli. Coach: Miceli Ferencvaros: Kiss, Plevritou 3, Mate, Kurucz-Gurisatti 2, Valyi 1, Farkas 1, Palmieri, Leimeter 2, Kuna 1, Hertzka, Bonca 1, De Vries, Neszmely. Coach: Matajsz Referees: Kunikova (SVK), Bourges (FRA) - Resource: "https://www.cataniatoday.it/sport/altro/ekipe-orizzonte-sconfitta-11-9-contro-ferencvaros-champions-league.html