News
UE Horta remain in División de Honor after a nail-biting match
UE Horta will remain for another season in the women's División de Honor water polo league. The Barcelona side secured survival after beating Iruña Navarra 13–12 in the third and decisive play-off match, on an afternoon of maximum tension at Horta pool.
The match had every ingredient of a final. There was no margin for error and the visitors started better in the water, taking the lead in the opening minutes. Paula Carcereny kept the home side afloat with her goals, but Iruña ended the first quarter at 2–4, leaving the match uphill.
The situation became even more complicated before half-time. Darya Pochinok reduced the deficit, although the Navarrese side retained control and reached the halfway point with a 4–7 lead. Survival was beginning to slip away and the stands knew an immediate reaction was needed.
After the restart, Iruña struck again from a penalty and extended the difference to 5–9 despite Marina Pineda’s response. That was when UE Horta showed character, adjusted its defence and put together a 5–0 run that completely changed the match.
Sonia Garcia made it 9–9 and Ana Carolina Neves completed the comeback for 10–9. The pool began to believe, and the final quarter became a constant exchange of nerves, goals and protests, with every possession lived as if it were the last.
Iruña equalised at 10, but Marina Pineda put the Barcelona side ahead again and Iria Maya opened what appeared a decisive lead at 13–10. The Navarrese side, however, did not give up and pressed until reaching 13–12 in the final moments.
UE Horta resisted the final push and celebrated survival with its supporters, hard won, worked for and highly symbolic for the club. The victory confirms the team in the top division and closes a play-off that demanded character until the last second.
Founded in 1953, UE Horta is one of the historic clubs of the Horta-Guinardó district and a benchmark for women’s water polo in Barcelona. Its pool again demonstrated the neighbourhood’s weight in decisive moments, with stands that pushed the team when it needed it most.