11.09.2007, 05:20
Portland wins, Carvajal injures

The end of the pre-season preparations brought mixed success for Portland: the team played well, but another player is out with injury.

Portland wins, Carvajal injures

Javier Cabanas must get Portland ready now, the friendly matches are over. The next game will already go for two points: mistakes are not allowed.

The pre-season ends with two victories against Teka and Ciudad de Logroño.

Teka was not equal opponent in the first match. Cantabria had a team to play in the Spanish B League and the return to Asobal looks a hard job for them. The Cabanas team played without intensity but with so many good handballers it was enough to win. Svensson showed a very good performance in the goal during the first half and Carvajal was the best scorer with seven goals. The final score was 27-20 and it says everything about the game.

Easy ride against Logrono

The match against Ciudad of Logroño was not very different one day later. Logroño signed this summer two very important players: Julio Fis and Ion Belaustegi. However, their roster is not on a similar level to Portland.

Cabanas could not count on Balic who was in the Gala of Asobal League. Ruesga was the only play maker of San Antonio, but he was able to take control of the match and he also scored six goals. Portland showed a better defensive level and this made new coach hopeful before the competition.

The best news of the match was something else: Spanish international player, Julio Fis, returned on court after five months of injury. The Cuban born player scored eight goals and showed that he has not forgotten how to play and score.

Another injury for Portland

The end of the pre-season was not really lucky for Portland San Antonio. The squad had several injuries in the last months already and now David Rodriguez Carvajal has also been injured. The Spanish right winger has a muscular problem and he will be out for the first matches of the season. The medical exams said that Carvajal must stop working for two or three weeks.

Portland’s doctor, Javier Aquerreta, also had a positive surprise for Cabanas. The coach was really worried about Dominikovic who had problems at the last friendly match. However, the Croatian player is not injuried and he will be there next Saturday against Arrate.

TEXT: Fernando Urra Goñi