Zabala and Martija achieved a fundamental victory for their future yesterday at the Uranzu in Irun after beating Larrazabal 22-21 and … Mariezkurrena II in a tremendously close match in which the blues gave a greater sensation of dominance, but in which they made too many mistakes that ended up paying dearly.
As has happened throughout the entire championship, Zabala and Martija had to achieve victory through suffering. It was not their longest game nor the most closely fought, but like yesterday the equipment was not great, it was difficult to move the ball and finish the goal. Only a brave Larrazabal managed to go off script, but neither he nor his teammate were solid and they ended up giving away too much.
After the marathon Serie B match, a match began that followed the same path. Zabala seemed to start with vigor, which together with the errors that Mariezkurrena began to add, especially Mariezkurrena, but also his teammate, led to a first takeoff in the scoreboard (7-2).
However, the feeling was that the blues were more. Larrazabal began to hurt the happy teams and Mariezkurrena left Martija behind him who, as always, was that defender who carries everything, without stridency, but solvent.
With the success of the Amurrio striker the score began to close until it caused the second tie of the match at 8-8. Zabala had a few minutes in which it was too difficult for him to get into the game and they noticed it. The Riojan gave the impression that he was not completely comfortable on the fronton – at the end of the game he acknowledged this, alluding to the fact that the fronton made “a lot of strangers” – and the blues took the opportunity to start putting things in their way (9-13).
But that lack of regularity to which we have alluded once again took its toll on the blues who saw how all the path they had traveled was of little use to them. Some silly mistake and the awakening of Zabala made the Colorados get back into the game (15-15).
And indeed in that final stretch Zabala took on the role that had been sorely missed. The forward from Logroño, accompanied in the stands by his parents, began to enter the game, hit good shots, and entered into a one-on-one duel with Larrazabal who added goals, but also errors.
The blues were 20-18 behind on the scoreboard, but a little save from Amurrio and a pinpoint hook made it 20-20. Zabala hesitated in the next goal and was unable to score a good ball and the Colorados were on the edge of the precipice from which they emerged thanks to two good shots by Zabala.
Worth a look
