De Zaan crowned Euro Cup champions after dramatic night in Amsterdam
ZV De Zaan are celebrating in Amsterdam this evening after a sensational performance against Pallanuoto Trieste secured them the women’s Euro Cup title. The Italians battled hard, but had to settle for the silver medal once again, while a triumphant De Zaan – who were totally dominant in the second half – became the first Dutch side to lift the famous trophy.
2024/25 Euro Cup Women Final
Second-Leg
Saturday, 5th April
ZV De Zaan (NED) 14-7 Pallanuoto Trieste (ITA)
(Agg: 24-16).
The Euro Cup Women trophy is staying in Amsterdam after ZV De Zaan swept Pallanuoto Trieste aside at a packed Sloterparkbad arena on Saturday night.
After winning all of their previous nine Euro Cup games, the triumphant De Zaan players celebrated making it a perfect 10, and there was an outpouring of emotion as they lifted the cup in front of their passionate supporters.
‘Today was magnificent what we showed in the water,’ said a jubilant De Zaan head coach Mick van den Bree after the win. ‘To perform like that in a final was very special, especially in front of all our fans.
‘We played a very good game and were able to use our speed a lot, and hit them with our counter attacks, and we also did well with our six on fives.
‘Trieste were making it difficult for us at times, but we were patient and managed to control the game, particularly in the second half.’
The final was the hottest ticket in town and there was a carnival atmosphere in the stands all evening as De Zaan were never behind on the night.
After Trieste’s Francesca Colletta crashed her shot against the post in the third minute, De Zaan countered and Maartje Van Rijn calmly lobbed her shot over Fabiana Sparano to open the scoring and get the crowd rocking.
Trieste hit back by converting their second six on five to level with 1:35 remaining in the first quarter, but there was still time for three more goals.
Takyiwa Maria Sam overpowered her marker in the centre to edge De Zaan back in front, then Emma De March levelled once more for the visitors, before Nerida Drewes – the hero of the first-leg – floated her shot into the far corner one second before the buzzer for 3-2.
That goal lifted the already-loud noise levels inside the arena, but it was Trieste who grabbed the next goal, as Veronica Gant fired in to make it 3-3 early in the second.
De Zaan were still creating the better chances and regained the lead through captain Lieke Rogge’s penalty for 4-3, and two goals from Maud Koopman extended their advantage to three.
Vera Koptseva quickly reduced the deficit with a shot from the perimeter, and De March added another to make it 6-5 with 2:12 left in the half.
Britt van den Dobbelsteen then beat out Lucrezia Lys Cergol’s late close-range effort to keep De Zaan ahead by one on the night and two on aggregate.
In the third, De Zaan killed two man-downs, then converted their six on five for 7-5, with Drewes again on target.
Trieste were desperately searching for a way back into the game, but it never came as they wasted possession after possession.
Instead, Lieke Rogge broke down the left-hand side and hammered her shot past the helpless Sparano for 8-5.
The third quarter turned into a nightmare for the Italians, as the hosts added three more – though Van Rijn, Bente Rogge and Drewes again – and the writing was on the wall at 11-5.
With the hosts’ party already starting in the crowd, the fourth quarter was simply a formality and two more Sam goals added extra gloss to an already emphatic scoreline.
Trieste’s Veronia Gant and Jelena Vukovic did manage two late consolation strikes, but they had to settle for the silver for a second successive season.
As for De Zaan – who have become the first Dutch team to win the Euro Cup – the celebrations were wild, especially when Sam hammered in her fourth of the night for 14-7 with 21 seconds remaining, and they will go on long into the night.
You can watch a replay of the Euro Cup Women final on www.euroaquaticstv.com, and stay up-to-date with live results and real-time updates through the European Aquatics App. Download it here: Google Play.
Andy Rollé for European Aquatics
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