Europe Cup Women | 26 Mar 2024

Mirandela won the second leg, but SH-ITB Budaörsi St Club progressed to the final

In the second leg of the Europe Cup semi-final, Clube Ténis de Mesa de Mirandela emerged victorious, but SH-ITB Budaörsi St Club advanced to the final. In the opening leg, the Hungarian team recorded a 3-1 win, so a 2-3 result in Budapest was sufficient to propel them to the ultimate stage.

The duel in Hungary concluded in five matches. The guests were down two matches after Ines MATOS and Annamaria ERDELYI defeated Dora MADARASZ and Helga DARI, but Georgina POTA's victory over Matilde PINTO brought the girls back into the game. Dora MADARASZ overcame Annamaria ERDELYI to level the score, but Mirandela withstood Budaörsi’s recovery, with MATOS defeating DARI. However, the gap from the opening leg was too wide, and the 1-3 deficit from Portugal remained insurmountable.

“In the opening match, MATOS surprised me, and I still felt the fatigue from last weekend’s competition in my legs. Nevertheless, I had plenty of game points, but it was clear that my rival played very well. I hoped to win the second match, but not under these circumstances, where I suffered a knee injury in the process, which I hope is not serious. I love playing against defenders, and I think that was evident,” said MADARASZ.

In the final, the Hungarian team will face MUSEO DE LA ALMENDRA FRANCISCO MORALES. MADARÁSZ previously played professionally in Spain for two years, so the finalist won’t be unfamiliar to her.

“Back then, they didn’t have the same lineup as they do now; their current team is stronger. Of course, we are also stronger than last year, and the goal is to arrive slightly fresher for the final matches than we are now.”

SH-ITB Budaörsi St Club - Clube Ténis de Mesa de Mirandela 2-3

Dora MADARASZ- Ines MATOS 1-3 (11-13, 11-9, 12-14, 6-11)

Helga DARI - Annamaria ERDELYI 2-3 (8-11, 11-6, 11-9, 5-11)

Georgina POTA – Matilde PINTO 3-0 (11-4, 11-6, 11-6)

Dora MADARASZ- Annamaria ERDELYI 3-1 (11-7, 11-13, 11-4, 11-6)

Helga DARI - Ines MATOS 1-3 (7-11, 3-11, 11-8, 12-14)

Opening leg

Clube Ténis de Mesa de Mirandela- SH-ITB Budaörsi St Club 1-3

Annamaria ERDELYI - Georgina POTA 2-3 (9-11, 15-13, 11-4, 6-11, 1-6)

Jingyi ZHOU - Dora MADARASZ 2-3 (11-4, 5-11, 5-11, 11-9, 1-6)

Ines MATOS - Maria FAZEKAS 3-0 (11-6, 11-7, 11-9)

Annamaria ERDELYI - Dora MADARASZ 1-3 (7-11, 8-11, 11-4, 8-11)