Porto edge Granollers 29-27 in Catalonia after late scare | OneFootball

FC Porto achieved its first victory in the main round II of the European Handball League this Tuesday, defeating Granollers in Catalonia by 29-27, an important triumph that balances the team’s situation in the group.

The Dragons started with great determination and intensity, opening a 6-1 run by the 11th minute, with Léo Gunnarson standing out offensively. The team coached by Magnus Andersson maintained a relentless pace and managed to build a five-goal lead by the 22nd minute (11-6), but the end of the first half saw a reaction from the Spaniards, who closed the gap before halftime – 8-12 at the break.

The beginning of the second half remained balanced, with FC Porto managing the game with a three-goal advantage, supported by a rigorous defense and decisive interventions from Ante Grbavac. The Croatian goalkeeper was the pillar of the team, shining from early on – 13 saves just in the first half, more than Porto’s goals, finishing with 18 stops (45% efficiency) in a remarkable performance.

Despite this, Granollers did not give up. Entering the last 12 minutes, they began their comeback and reduced the deficit to 20-21 at 18′, putting pressure on the blue and white bench. Andersson called a timeout and the team responded: António Martinez stood out again, scoring his sixth goal and pushing FC Porto back to a three-goal lead (24-21).

In the final moments, the Catalans pressed on, driven by Marcos Fis, and threatened a comeback (25-26). However, FC Porto showed maturity and composure, controlled the pace, and managed to hold on to the victory until the final whistle, setting the score at 27-29.

A hard-fought but deserved victory, based on defensive solidity and an inspired night from the goalkeeper.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.