Conference Cup Women: Sant Feliu silence hosts to set up gold medal clash with Cosenza

Sant Feliu ruined hosts Panionios’ party with a dramatic win in the first semifinal of the Conference Cup Women Final Eight in Athens. The Greeks fought back from five goals down, but a late penalty miss prevented them from saving the game to a shootout. For a while in the second semi, an all-Spanish final was in sight as Tenerife led by four shortly before half-time, but a tremendous second half comeback sent Cosenza to the gold medal match.

2025/26 Conference Cup Women
Final 8, Athens, Day 3
Semifinals
Saturday 28 March

1st-4th Semifinals

Panionios GSS (GRE) 12-14 CN Sant Feliu (ESP)
Smile Cosenza Pallanuoto (ITA) 13-8 CN Tenerife Echeyde (ESP)

5th-8th Semifinals

CSM Unirea Alba Iulia (ROU) 7-9 NC Chania (GRE)
ZAVK Mladost (CRO) 10-9 Galatasaray Zena (TUR)

1st-4th Semifinals

Panionios GSS (GRE) 12-14 CN Sant Feliu (ESP) (2-4, 2-2, 2-5, 6-3)

Sant Feliu started the first semi with a more composed game, Panionios first goal arrived after almost four minutes when Margarita Plevritou netted an action goal, but by then the Spaniards were already 0-2 up and they held on for a 2-4 advantage after the first eight minutes.

It didn’t change much in the second, as the Greeks went on struggling to break the Spanish defence. Plevritou scored again after four minutes but Sant Feliu played with discipline, Mar Navarro’s action hit gave them a three-goal advantage before Sofia Lampropoulou pulled one back, with 0:03 on the clock, for 4-6.

Even if it seemed a morale-booster, the Spanish hit back with clinical execution in the third. They staged a 0-3 rush, while Panionos could only score twice once more within a quarter, they missed a six-on-four, and a buzzer-beater from Mari Duenas pushed them even deeper as it stood 6-11 before the final quarter.

Though Panionios kicked off the fourth with a quick double in 34 seconds, Navarro replied with an action goal so Sant Feliu still led 8-12.

However, the Greeks went all in, pulled one more back from the next possession and with five minutes remaining, Plevritou buried a penalty to make it 10-12. Though they missed a woman-up soon, still, Dimitra Papanstasiou cut the deficit to a single goal with 3:35 remaining.

Duenas converted an extra in the next Spanish possession, but an action goal kept the hosts’ hopes alive, and there were still 2:45 minutes to play.

And with 1:05 to go, Panionios got a great opportunity to go even as they earned a penalty, but Plevritou’s shot was well saved by Chelsea Oliver.

This was a heart-breaker as their next possession didn’t bring any better outcome and Judith Panicello’s shot in an extra put an end to the contest seven seconds from time.

1st-4th Semifinals

Smile Cosenza Pallanuoto (ITA) 13-8 CN Tenerife Echeyde (ESP) (0-2, 3-4, 4-0, 6-2)

In the second semi, the Spanish runners-up from the other group were also set to stage a coupe d’etat as Tenerife stormed to a 0-4 lead deep into the second period against Cosenza.

The Italians started showing some signs of life, scoring three goals in the last 2:14 minutes before the middle break, but the Spanish also added a couple more hits and led 3-6 at half-time.

What came next was not on the cards based on the first half – but two early goals from Giusy Citino and Nikki Mejier and a killed woman-down in between triggered a great run.

Just 90 seconds later, Marta Misiti equalised with a fine action goal and more importantly, Cosenza denied Tenerife in a six-on-four, then in a six-on-five, while they could bury their last chance – an extra after a time-out – seven seconds from time to lead 7-6.

This stunned the Spaniards, who could never really recover from that shock. Mejier put away a penalty right away in the fourth, then Carla Martin also converted one at the other end to halt her side’s scoreless run after 9:54 minutes for 8-7.

The next three minutes were crucial, no calls, just swimming and battling and then Citino could strike first, from the centre.

Tenerife also hit one from action, but Federica Morrone replied with another action goal to make it 10-8 with three minutes remaining.

The Italians’ next hit, from an extra, decided the outcome, as this crashed the Spaniards, who then conceded two more and lost the second half 10-2 – as Cosenza cruised to the final.

5th-8th Semifinals

CSM Unirea Alba Iulia (ROU) 7-9 NC Chania (GRE) (1-1, 1-3, 0-2, 5-3)
ZAVK Mladost (CRO) 10-9 Galatasaray Zena (TUR) (5-3, 1-3, 2-1, 2-2)

In the matches for the 5-8th places, Chania downed Alba Iulia in a hard-fought battle and Mladost and Galatasaray also staged a grand battle where Ria Glas’ penalty won the match for the Croats 12 seconds from time, so they can play for the 5th place with Chania.

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Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

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