TM Benidorm took a step back from dreams of qualifying for the EHF Europa League qualifiers after a tough visit to the arena yesterday, losing 36-30 at Ystads, where Latorre’s squad paid the price for missing sharp attacks at decisive moments.
Early in the second half, Benidorm mounted a strong comeback, but soon faded. The team went 15 minutes without conceding a goal while wasting chances, working with numerical advantages and seven-meter throws that did not translate into points.
Benidorm’s coach tried to shake things up from the outset, keying in on disrupting Ystads’ rhythm and asserting dominance on every possession. Yet the Swedes answered with physical strength and smoother transitions, seizing the initiative and taking the early lead.
TM Benidorm wants to hold on to Europe at the Ystads court in Sweden
Benidorm explored several tactical ideas to mislead the opponents, including three-pivot formations. However, ball circulation errors allowed Ystads to strike from empty nets, pushing the score to 12-6 in favor of the home side.
Barceló’s aggressive defense briefly sparked a 1-4 run for Benidorm, narrowing the gap as Ramiro Martínez and Nikcevic found the net. Despite the surge, a few costly turnovers and offensive mistakes helped Ystads push the scoreboard back out of reach before the timeout, standing at 20-13 with 26 minutes gone.
The crowd saw Benidorm lift the tempo again after the break, with Latorre applying heavy, disruptive defense that unsettled the Swedes and allowed the visitors to press into the attack. Rubén Dos Santos, leading the offense, closed the first period with a three-goal burst, leaving the score at 21-18.
The second half carried forward that positive energy, with Ramiro Martínez finally leveling the match at 22-22 within six minutes. The teams traded goals, with Jonathan Svensson continuing to keep Ystads ahead thanks to accurate finishing and relentless pressure.
After drawing level at 25, Benidorm hit a stretch of offensive struggles. Roberto Rodriguez failed to convert at a critical moment while Kraft found his footing for Ystads, driving the score to 28-25 as the game progressed.
Latorre’s defense intensified again, cutting through the Swedes’ attacks, but the visitors could not close the gap. Shot precision dropped, turnovers increased, and seven-yard attempts haunted Benidorm, ending the match with a decisive margin for Ystads.
The match concluded with a calmer finish than expected, and the defeat complicated Benidorm’s path to qualification.
The scoreboard remained a vivid record of the battle: a Benidorm defense that pressed hard, a Swedish attack that answered every challenge, and a game that swung on moments of efficiency and error alike.
The scene after the final whistle showed Benidorm still competing, even as the result stood firm in Ystads’ favor.
DATA SHEET:
YSTADS IF IHF (20+15): Kraft; Stankiewicz (4), Kim Andersson (3, 2p), Stenmalm, Jonathan Svensson (9), Fernebrand (4) and Mansson (7) – starting with seven – Cristoffer Svensson, Andersson (5), Nygren (4), Honoré, Dahlin, Fingal, Hvenfelt (ps), Karlsson and Engstrom
TM BENIDORM (18+12): Roberto Rodriguez; Vujovic (1), Lignieres (1), Ramiro Martínez (7), Santi Barceló (1), Iker Serrano (2) and Soljic (3) – starting with seven – Sempere (4), Vainstein, Bernatonis (2), Nikcevic (2), Iván Rodríguez (3p), Rubén Dos Santos (4) and Samu Ibáñez (ps)
A MARKER EVERY 5 MINUTES: 3-1, 7-4, 12-6, 14-9, 18-13, 21-18 -rest- 22-20, 26-25, 29-27, 31-28, 34-28 and 36-30.
REFEREES: Davor Lonzar and Zoran Loncar (Croatia)
PAVILION: Ystad Arena in front of approximately 900 spectators