FCBARCELONA.CAT

28.12.2008 19:37

Ademar, take Copa Asobal (25-31)

Meritxell Infante

Barça Borges failed to beat Ademar de Leon in the final of the Asobal handball Cup at the Palau tonight. The visitors and new champions dominated from start to finish and Barca just could not find a way to stop Ribera’s team.

Ademar had shown that they were firm favourites for the title with an impressive win over Portland in the semi finals and in tonight’s final they were just too much for Barca, who were unable to add to their tally of titles, as Leon repeated their win of 10 years ago when they took their first ever Asobal Cup. It was Leon’s night and the Palau crowd had to accept they wouldn’t be celebrating another title to add to the Super Cup they won earlier this year.

Defence key to success

The key to Ademar’s win was their solid defence which time and again stopped the Barca players attacking instincts with Nagy especially tightly marked, as he had been against Ciudad Real. A five-goal flurry saw Ribera’s team put some distance between themselves and Barca early on to leave the scores at 2-7 on 12 minutes. Barca weren’t able to respond and Leon’s Aguirrezabalaga and Krivochlykov had soon stretched the lead, despite Cadenes’ decision to send on Ugalde to try and stop Leon’s playmaker Sarmiento and at half time the visitors were 11-17 up.

Nine goal lead

It was much the same story in the second half and Leon stretched their lead to 11-20 on 35 minutes. Barca heads began to drop as the Leon defence and their excellent keeper Alilovic, who recorded 17 saves, frustrated any fight back from the hosts. With Sarmiento and Stranovsky taking on the scoring duties for Leon, with 8 goals each, Barca needed to react, but when they did, cutting the difference to six goals, it was too little too late and Leon ran out worthy 25-31 winners to take the title. In addition the Leon player Sarmiento taking the best player of the tournament and Alilovic the best keeper awards.