The contest ended in a narrow defeat for Elche, yet the result was enough to push the team into the round of 16 in the EHF European Cup. While the opening period was uneven, coach Joaquín Rocamora saw his squad rally, fighting back through a spirited comeback that kept the club in the running and prevented a premature exit in the 16th round.
Reports from Musons and Elena Martínez indicate that the early stages did not hint at the dramatic turnaround to come, as Paola Bernabé launched a decisive 3-1 run that steadied Esperanza Lag after the rough start.
Paola Bernabé pressed against the Icelandic defense while Matias Segarra captured the moment on camera as the forward pushed the attack forward.
Elche faced a stern test as Valur’s defense intensified, and Rocamora’s side struggled to initiate coordinated assaults. The visitors gradually exploited gaps in the home defense, with Sturludóttir guiding teammates to open shooting lanes and finish plays, keeping Elche off balance.
A 0-4 burst early in the second half signaled trouble for the home side. Udane Bernabé stood tall in goal during a stretch when Elche blocked several key attempts, yet the attack remained stifled. Rocamora called a timeout to reset, while Delgado delivered a clever pass and Andreu threaded through the defense to threaten the net.
At the start of the second period, Valur moved ahead with a 9-15 scoreline, aided by a contested goal that sent So Delgado off the court. Elche, beset by defensive lapses and a lack of offensive cohesion, found themselves trailing for the first time in the match, making the challenge even tougher.
The home team regrouped as Nuria Andreu sparked the offense, pulling Elche closer with a pair of successful possessions. Morale and Flores anchored the defense, and Nuria added a crucial goal to tighten the margin while Morales and Gascó kept pressure on Valur’s back line.
The Icelanders clung to a four-goal cushion in the final stretch, yet Elche pressed relentlessly in the closing minutes. Morales delivered standout saves that thwarted Valur’s late efforts, and the team’s resilience paid off as Elche held the visitors at bay. The late push yielded a narrow victory for the visitors, earning Elche a round-of-16 berth despite a painful second game.
The final scoreboard and game flow were documented in a match paper listing every scorer and substitution. The AtticGo Elche lineup featured Morales, Zhukova, Van Zijl, Guilabert, Méndez, Andreu, So Delgado, Musons, Gascó, Flores, Benítez, Martínez, Udane Bernabé, Carrillo, Wolves, and Paola Bernabé. Valur’s scorers included Hauksdóttir, Helgadóttir, Hjaltadóttir, Oskarsdóttir, Bjornsdóttir, Agustsdottir, Asgeirsdóttir, Olafsdóttir, Einarsdóttir, Gestsdóttir, Eradóttir, and Stur. The match took place at Esperanza Lag with referees Jaap Klompers and Koen Stobbe from the Netherlands.
The night concluded with expressions of belief in the team’s ongoing effort and a shared hope for continued success in the competition. Final reflections from the camp reinforced the sense that the season holds ample potential as AtticGo Elche eyes future rounds.
WE CONTINUE TO DREAM! ✨#Penthouse UN Elche 18:21 @valurhandbolti
Global Elche 48:46 Valur
#EHF European Cup / Round 3 Sunday, December 11 Hope Delay Pavilion
match paper
ATTICGO CBM ELCHE: Morales, Zhukova, Van Zijl, Guilabert, Méndez, Andreu, SoDelgado, Musons, Gascó, Flores, Benítez, Martínez, Udane Bernabé, Carrillo, Wolves, Paola Bernabé
VALUR: Hauksdottir, Helgadottir, Hjaltadottir, Oskarsdottir, Bjornsdottir, Agustsdottir, Asgeirsdottir, Olafsdottir, Einarsdottir, Gestsdottir, Eraddottir, Stur
SCORE EVERY 5′: 3-2, 3-5, 5-6, 7-10, 8-12, 9-15, 11-16, 12-16, 14-16, 15-18, 17-20, 18-21
REFEREES: Jaap Klompers and Koen Stobbe
PAVILION: Esperanza Lag