Conference Cup Women: Sant Feliu and Cosenza join Panionios and Tenerife in semifinals
Smile Cosenza and Sant Feliu joined Panionios and Tenerife to set up intriguing semifinal clashes at the Conference Cup Women Final Eight in Athens. All four teams delivered convincing performances in the decisive matches. Saturday’s last four fixtures will see Panionios take on Sant Feliu, and Cosenza face Tenerife.
2025/26 Conference Cup Women
Final 8, Day 2
Friday 27 March
Group A
CN Tenerife Echeyde (ESP) 11-16 Panionios GSS (GRE)
Galatasaray Zena (TUR) 15-10 CSM Unirea Alba Iulia (ROU)
Standings: 1. Panionios 9pts, 2. Tenerife 6pts, 3. Galatasaray 3pts, 4. Alba Iulia 0pts
Group B
CN Sant Feliu (ESP) 16-4 ZAVK Mladost (CRO)
NC Chania (GRE) 7-18 Smile Cosenza Pallanuoto (ITA)
CN Sant Feliu (ESP) 19-15 NC Chania (GRE)
Smile Cosenza Pallanuoto (ITA) 13-6 ZAVK Mladost (CRO)
Standings: 1. Cosenza 9pts, 2. Sant Feliu 6pts, 3. Chania 3pts, 4. Mladost 0pts
Group A
CN Tenerife Echeyde (ESP) 11-16 Panionios GSS (GRE)
Galatasaray Zena (TUR) 15-10 CSM Unirea Alba Iulia (ROU)
Standings: 1. Panionios 9pts,2. Tenerife 6pts, 3. Galatasaray 3pts, 4. Alba Iulia 0pts
With the semi-final berths secured, only the top spot in Group A was at stake in the clash between Tenerife and Panionios.
Although the Spaniards made the better start and led 3-1, the hosts responded quickly, scoring twice in 50 seconds shortly before the first break, then adding two more early in the second period, this time in 43 seconds to move two clear (3-5).
Tenerife managed to pull one back, but three further Greek goals before the middle break extended the lead to 4-8 at half-time.
This overall 1-7 run from Panionios proved decisive and, although the Spaniards continued to find the net, the home team maintained their focus.
By moving 7-13 ahead with eight minutes remaining, they effectively sealed the contest and cruised to an impressive win to secure first place.
Galatasaray consoled themselves with a convincing victory over Alba Iulia to finish third in the group. A dominant first half, in which the Turks surged to a 9-2 lead set the tone for the outcome.
Group B
CN Sant Feliu (ESP) 16-4 ZAVK Mladost (CRO)
NC Chania (GRE) 7-18 Smile Cosenza Pallanuoto (ITA)
CN Sant Feliu (ESP) 19-15 NC Chania (GRE)
Smile Cosenza Pallanuoto (ITA) 13-6 ZAVK Mladost (CRO)
Standings: 1. Cosenza 9pts, 2. Sant Feliu 6pts, 3. Chania 3pts, 4. Mladost 0pts
After losing to Cosenza on the opening day, Saint Feliu had no margin for error and the Spaniards delivered in both matches they played on Friday.
A 3-0 opening period against Mladost set the tone and, deep into the second, they built a commanding 8-2 lead.
The second half brought more dominant play from the Spaniards, who left no breathing space for the Croatians in front of goal, limiting them to a single strike in the final sixteen minutes while adding eight more themselves.
This set up a do-or-die clash with Chania, where a 4-0 burst late in the second period earned them a 9-4 lead at half-time.
Although it seemed decisive, two quick Chania goals at the start of the third signalled that the Greeks were still in contention.
Despite conceding a couple, Chania kept pushing after 10-6 and 11-8, and Christina Kotsia struck with 49 seconds remaining in the quarter to level at 11-11.
However, Marta Ungria’s 6m effort restored the lead for Sant Feliu with 23 seconds to go, and Claudia Moreno’s fine finish from the centre just 18 seconds into the fourth doubled their advantage.
The Greeks stayed close in the following minutes, but after 14-13, the Spaniards produced back-to-back goals and, despite a well-taken six-on-five finish from Eleni Paterou for 16-14, two further action goals from Saint Feliu sealed the outcome at 18-14 and sent them into the top four.
In fact, this was Chania’s second defeat, as Cosenza had already overwhelmed them in the morning session.
The Italians surged to a 1-5 lead and moved 4-10 ahead by half-time, leaving the Greeks with no chance of a comeback as they eventually fell by 11 goals.
In the final match, Cosenza pulled away within eight minutes against Mladost, building a 5-0 lead that ensured a comfortable contest.
After moving eight clear (12-4) by the end of the third, they could even start to think about their semifinal with Tenerife on Saturday.
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Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics
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