Echeyde Faces Relegation Battle After First-Leg Defeat to Iruña
Santa Cruz Tenerife Echeyde must overcome a 13-11 first-leg deficit against Waterpolo Iruña in next Saturday’s return match to avoid relegation from the Women’s Water Polo Division of Honor.
Santa Cruz Tenerife Echeyde’s place in the Women’s Water Polo Division of Honor will be decided in the second leg after a tough loss in Navarre. The Tenerife side, led by coach Enrique Cruz, must now overcome a 13-11 defeat against Waterpolo Iruña to keep their spot in the national elite.
The match was a back-and-forth contest early on, with the visitors holding a narrow 6-5 lead at halftime. After the break, the home team fought back to take a two-goal lead in the third period. Echeyde managed to rally, leveling the score at 9-9 and even pulling ahead 11-9 with six minutes left to play. However, the team struggled offensively in the final stretch, allowing their opponents—who had only won once during the regular season—to finish the game with a decisive 4-0 run.
The result means the Tenerife team must win by at least two goals in the return leg, which takes place next Saturday, March 30, at 1:30 p.m. at the Acidalio Lorenzo pool. This playout series is a critical moment for women’s water polo in the Canary Islands, as a loss would result in relegation. The team’s ability to handle the pressure in this final match will determine whether they remain in the top national division next season.