TM Benidorm Must Beat Ferencvaros to Stay in Europe
The TM Benidorm team faced a decisive moment one day after the group stage ended in the EHF Europa League. A 23-27 defeat against Ferencvaros pushed their hopes of reaching the qualifying rounds to a fragile edge, marking a giant step in their quest to keep European dreams alive.
The Benidorm side paid a heavy price for a slow start that left their offense blocked and their defense exposed. With no realistic chance of qualification, they now head into the final day facing a European clash against France, hoping for a miracle that would rewrite their fate.
TM Benidorm entered the match with the sole aim of winning to keep their continental campaign alive, but the start was anything but encouraging. Ferencvaros opened a quick lead, expanding the gap with ease as Benidorm struggled to muster an organized response.
The match swung on a sequence of turnovers and key saves. A surge by Ferencvaros, fueled by Nagy, gave the visitors a comfortable cushion as the home team tried to steady the ship. The Hungarian side demonstrated patience and efficiency in attack, pressing for control from the outset.
Initially, a 7-minute stretch saw Benidorm trail 1-5 on the scoreboard, a deficit that jolted the team but sparked a response on the bench. The coach made multiple changes, urging a tighter defense and more decisive finishing, yet the attack did not immediately break through.
Ferencvaros maintained a steady rhythm, alternating between four and six goal leads. They relied on a disciplined defense and quick transitions, all while keeping their best player, Lekai, ready to unleash when the moment required.
Barceló’s courageous plays and Bernatonis’ outside shooting kept Benidorm in reach on offense. Roberto’s goalkeeping kept the score from widening further as the team fought to stay within striking distance. A late scoreline of 9-14 reflected the battle still underway, with Benidorm needing a spark to turn the tide.
In the buildup to the midway mark, a 3-0 burst briefly revived Benidorm’s hopes of a comeback, but Ferencvaros remained calm and clinical. Once Lekai found his rhythm, the Hungarian side looked prepared to seize every opportunity and push clear again.
Defensively, Benidorm improved as the match progressed, and Roberto resurfaced with crucial saves to keep the deficit from ballooning. Yet the attack remained prolific for Ferencvaros, and the home side failed to convert enough chances to erase the deficit.
With the score edging closer, Benidorm narrowed the gap to two goals thanks to Ramiro Martínez’s scoring, Barceló’s tenacity in defense, and more stops from Roberto. Five minutes remained on the clock, and a late goal by Ferencvaros forced Benidorm into a riskier stance to salvage something from the match.
Benidorm had a late opportunity to finish strong, but a miscue at a critical moment allowed Ferencvaros to punish with two decisive goals. The Hungarian side, having dominated most of the night, sealed the outcome and eliminated Benidorm from further European competition.
On the field, Sánchez attempted a late surge for Benidorm, but the final result left the home side facing an uphill battle to extend their European journey. The match, part of the Europa League group stage on its ninth day, drew around 600 spectators to the Palau d’Esports L’Illa in Benidorm.
DATA SHEET:
TM BENIDORM (9+14): Roberto Rodriguez; Vainstein, Ramiro Martínez (4), Barceló (4), Sempere (3), Vujovic (1) and Soljic – starter seven – Iker Serrano (1), Lignieres (2), Edu Calle (2), Rubén Santos, Adrián Sánchez (1), Grau, Nikcevic (3), Bernatonis (2) and Samu Ibáñez (ps).
FERENCVAROS TC (14+13): Borbel; Onodi Janokuti (2), Bujdoso, Bognar (2), Debreczeni (3), Nagy (8, 2), Kovacsics (1) – starter seven – Pordan, Fuzi (4), Torok, Imre (3), Lekai (1), Balogh, Prainer (3), Juhas.
A MARKER EVERY 5 MINUTES: 1-2, 1-5, 4-8, 5-10, 6-12, 9-14 (rest); 13-16, 13-19, 16-21, 18-22, 21-23 and 23-27.
REFEREES: Christian Hannes and David Hannes (Germany). They excluded Vujovic, Grau, Soljic and Barceló for TM Benidorm and Debreczeni (2) and Bognar for Ferencvaros.
EVENTS: The match, which corresponded to the ninth day of the Europa League group stage, took place in front of approximately 600 spectators at Palau d’Esports L’Illa in Benidorm.