Mirandela wins Portugal Cup in women’s table tennis against Sporting
The experienced Annamaria Erdelyi, of Serbian origin, and in Trás os Montes for 14 years, was the key to success, winning the two challenges in which she participated.
First, she overcame the Spanish international Galia Dvorák in the opening of the final, by 3-2 (11-8, 6-11, 8-11, 11-7 and 11-8), and then won the fifth and decisive match, over Patrícia Santos, by 3-0 (11-1, 11-6 and 11-4).
In the middle, the young Welsh Anna Hursey drew 1-1, by imposing herself by 3-0 on Matilde Pinto (11-5, 11-9 and 13-11), and was prevented in the comeback, when teaming up with Patrícia Santos , to beat Inês Matos/Matilde Pinto, aged 18 and 16, respectively, by 3-1 (11-6, 11-5, 8-11 and 11-4).
Meanwhile, Mirandela had made it 2-2 through Inês Matos, who overcame Galia Dvorák by 3-0 (11-5, 11-9 and 11-4).
“We have been very happy in this race. Mirandela has long been the best in Portugal, as in 31 years we have won 26 times. And we have a team undergoing renovation”, congratulates the president of CTM Mirandela, Isidro Borges.
Marco Rodrigues, Sporting’s coach, accepted the game as “very tough” and considered that the key to the challenge was his team’s inability to resolve it when they led the match by 2-1.
“It was a very good game, but not the result we expected. We have to prepare better for the play-offs (of the championship)”, he added.