17 Apr Deportivo Liceo at the gates of the final 8 of the WSE Champions League
After a group stage with very competitive teams (Benfica, Calafell, Oliveirense and Deportivo Liceo) and located in group A of the WSE Champions League, Deportivo Liceo is on the verge of entering the final 8 after a last match of heart attack against a direct rival, Oliveirense.
In the first match of the group stage, as a visitor, against UD Oliveirense, one of the powers of Portuguese hockey and winner of a WSE Continental Cup and a WS Europe Cup, Deportivo Liceo started the WSE Champions League on the wrong foot conceding a win and leaving bad feelings. It lost 5-1 and the only goal of the team, was scored by Cesar Carballeira.
In the second match of the group stage, the ISB Sport ambassador team, Deportivo Liceo debuted at home in the European competition, against the great Benfica, (the current leader of the Portuguese league), with the aim of recovering from the defeat on the opening day. In the match, both teams ended up sharing a point, after a very intense clash in which the Liceo started losing 0-2 and in 11 minutes managed to get ahead on the scoreboard (3-2). Finally, Benfica put the tie on the scoreboard with 2 minutes left. The goals of the Liceo were the work of Bruno Di Benedetto, Cesar Carballeira and Àlex Rodríguez.
With a point of six possible, the Liceo visited the Joan Ortoll de Calafell with the aim of adding three points to stay alive in the classification (both teams added one point). After an incredible game, with goals and a great performance by Martí Serra, Deportivo Liceo added three points thanks to a result of 3-4. Deportivo Liceo faced the match with great seriousness and intensity and was not behind on the scoreboard at any time of the match, reaching three goals difference (1-4). The goals came from Sito Ricart, Bruno Di Benedetto, Àlex Rodríguez and Arnau Canal.
Already in the second round, the ambassador team of ISB Sport faced Calafell again (this time at home) with the same objective, to add the three points (the team led by Juan Copa occupied the third position with 4 points like the Oliveirense). On this occasion it could not pass the tie (4-4) in another exciting match, despite finishing the first half winning 2-0. The goals were the work of Dava Torres, Àlex Rodríguez (X2), Dava Torres and despite the draw and thanks to the defeat of Oliveirense against Benfica, the Liceo was placed second in the classification.
On the penultimate day of the group stage, the Liceo depended on itself for its classification in the final 8. To do this, he had to overcome the leader of the group as a visitor, Benfica. The match started badly for the Liceo, when the locals finished the first half with a 2-0. However, those of Juan Copa, took out the Liceo DNA and managed to close the game by adding a point and overcoming the match that had been so complicated. Despite the point obtained, the Liceo returned to the third position, since the Oliveirense won (4-0) to Calafell and everything was played in the last game at home against Oliveirense itself.
In the last match of the group stage of the WSE Champions League, a match in which Oliveirense and Deproitvo Liceo played the pass to the final 8, Deportivo Liceo, unfortunately, was eliminated after giving everything and fighting until the last second against a fierce Oliveirense. The result was 2 goals to 3 and we could see a match with a very even result at all times. Oliveirense, went ahead on the scoreboard in the 20th minute and quickly Bruno Di Benedetto put the equalizer. Subsequently, the Liceo went ahead (2-1) in the 44 ‘and it was then when a small disconnection of Juan Copa, put the Liceo behind on the scoreboard with two goals in 3 minutes and that was how the game ended (2-3), to end with the options of the Liceo to enter the final 8.
Staying out of a competition is always a difficult experience to cope with, especially when it comes to a competition as prestigious as the WSE Champions League. That is why Juan Copa can take advantage of this experience to analyze what went wrong and work on areas of improvement for next season in which from ISB Sport we will continue to support the green-white team.
