Euro Cup Women: Seven quarter-final tickets secured after action-packed Day 5
Ethnikos OFPF, who had already qualified for the next phase, edged past Polar Bears in a thrilling game that went right down to the wire in Ede on Day 5 of the women’s Euro Cup Group Stage, while there were big wins for Zodiac CNAB, ANC Glyfada iRepair and Pallanuoto Trieste.
The results mean seven of the eight spots in the quarter-finals have now been decided, with CNAB, Glyfada, Trieste, Catalunya, BVSC and Padova all securing a place alongside Ethnikos.
Despite the narrow one-goal loss on Wednesday, Dutch side Polar Bears are still likely to progress unless Lille UC can pull off a huge surprise on the final day of the Group Stage.
2025/26 Euro Cup Women
Group Stage, Day 5
Wednesday 18 February
Group A
Polar Bears (NED) 12-13 Ethnikos OFPF (GRE)
Group B
Hapoel Yoqneam (ISR) 8-18 ANC Glyfada iRepair (GRE)
*Hapoel Yoqneam (ISR) v BVSC Manna ABC (HUN)
*Day 4, to be played on Sat 21 Feb, postponed from December
Group C
Zodiac CNAB (ESP) 29-6 Grand Nancy (FRA)
Group D
*III. Keruleti TVE (HUN) 5-13 Pallanuoto Trieste (ITA)
*Played on Tues 17 Feb
Group A
Polar Bears (NED) 12-13 Ethnikos OFPF (GRE)
Polar Bears caused Ethnikos plenty of problems in the opening eight minutes, taking the lead twice (3-2 and 4-3), before Amy Kleinlugtebeld struck at the start of the second period to put the hosts two clear (5-3).
This sparked a massive response from the Greeks, who immediately tightened up in defence and went on a 0-6 blitz in attack.
Polar Bears regrouped during the long break and came out fighting in the third, scoring three without reply to cut the deficit to one, but they weren’t able to find an equaliser.
Ethnikos’ Eleni Kanetidou converted a penalty to halt the hosts’ run, then she had a glorious chance to score again from a counter, but her shot smashed against the right post.
Eleni Beta then unleashed a fierce shot on extra that flashed past Laura Steenbeek’s right hand for 8-11.
There was still time for the Dutch to claw one back through a Marjolein De Gier penalty three seconds before the buzzer to put them two behind heading into the fourth (9-11).
Polar Bears’ fans were soon on their feet as they levelled twice (at 11-11 and 12-12), but they couldn’t edge ahead, and it was the Greeks who retook the lead through Chatzikyriakaki, who rose majestically at the far post on extra to slam in what proved to be the winner with 0:52 on the clock.
Kiara Heerink had a chance to send the game to a shootout, but her penalty crashed against the left post with just 28 seconds remaining, and Ethnikos were able to close the game out.
Group B
Hapoel Yoqneam (ISR) 8-18 ANC Glyfada iRepair (GRE)
ANC Glyfada iRepair secured their spot in the quarter-finals with a commanding 8-18 victory away at Hapoel Yoqneam.
The hosts – featuring several Israeli stars and Serbia women’s coach Milos Bradic – fell 0-3 behind inside the first four minutes, with Alexandra Kalaitzi, Thomais Moustakaria and Lily Turner all on target to get the visitors off to a flying start.
Nofar Hochberg and Carmel Rahum hit back for Hapoel to bring them within one, but that was as close as they could get for the remainder of the game.
Two more Glyfada strikes before the first break restored their three-goal cushion (2-5), and when the Greeks scored the first two of the second quarter, Hapoel’s qualification hopes were fading away.
After 4-7, the visitors went on a powerful 0-5 surge, which put them seven clear (5-12) by midway through the third quarter, and at that point the points were safe.
In the end, the margin stretched to 10, which was more than enough for the Greeks to secure their place in the last eight with a game to spare.
USA international Brooke Ochoa top-scored for Glyfada with four goals, while five players – Moustakaria, Kalaitzi, Eleni Grigoropoulou, Vasiliki Laskaridou and Rafaela Saltamanika – all scored twice.
Noga Levinshtein led the resistance for the hosts with a consolation hat-trick.
Glyfada’s win also ensures BVSC a place in the next round, whatever the results are in their last two games.
*Hapoel Yoqneam (ISR) v BVSC Manna ABC (HUN)
*Day 4, to be played on Sat 21 Feb, postponed from December. The report will appear here after the game.
Group C
Zodiac CNAB (ESP) 29-6 Grand Nancy (FRA)
Zodiac CNAB broke their own scoring record in this season’s Euro Cup Group Stage with a powerful attacking performance against Grand Nancy.
The Spaniards hit 27 against the French away on Day 2 and went two better this time, eventually finishing on 29.
Grand Nancy were overwhelmed from the start, trailing 6-2 at the first break and 14-3 by half-time.
The points – and a ticket to the Quarter Finals – may have been safe, but that didn’t stop Chus Martin’s side hammering in another 15 goals in the second half to really rubber-stamp their authority on the game.
With bigger challenges to come, it was the perfect opportunity to try out some new plays, and the dominant Spaniards will definitely be a team others hope to avoid in the draw for the next phase.
Alejandra Aznar top-scored for the hosts with six goals, Clara Diaz was not too far behind with five, while three players struck four times – Paula Leiton, Elena Flynn and Luna Vara – as CNAB surged to a huge victory.
Group D
III. Keruleti TVE (HUN) 5-13 Pallanuoto Trieste (ITA)
Pallanuoto Trieste delivered an excellent defensive display in Hungary as they bounced back from their Day 4 home defeat to Catalunya in style.
The resounding victory in Budapest also guaranteed their place in the top eight of the Euro Cup for a third successive season.
Before the game, all the talk was about the return of Olympic bronze medallist goalkeeper Alda Magyari, who returned to the sport after becoming a mother last year, but her presence for the hosts was not enough to disrupt the Italians.
For the first eight minutes, Kerulet did manage to keep up with Trieste and even took the lead at 2-1, shortly after Magyari had expertly deflected Morgan McDowall’s penalty over the crossbar.
The New Zealand international soon made up for that miss, though, levelling the scores at 3-3, and captain Lucrezia Cergol edged Trieste ahead 18 seconds before the first break.
After conceding three in the opening quarter, the Italians stepped up their defence for the remaining three, allowing their opponents just two more goals during the remainder of the game.
It was a masterclass that pleased their coach, Paolo Zizza. “We’re really happy,” he told the club website afterwards. “We were a bit slow at the start, but then we took off with ease and we’ve achieved an important goal.”
The Hungarians kept pushing and remained close at 5-8 midway through the third, but the runners-up from the past two seasons showed their class by hitting the next five without reply to seal the win.
McDowall led the scoring with four goals, while Emma De March and Giorgia Klatowski both fired in hat-tricks.
Trieste’s place in the next phase may be secure, but Catalunya – who have also qualified – can still overtake them at the top of the table if they beat Kerulet on Day 6 (Saturday 28 February).
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Andy Rollé for European Aquatics
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