Portugal became European Under-17 hockey champions for the 15th time on Saturday, beating Spain 5-2 in Olot, Girona, to recover from a deficit to reclaim the title they had eluded since 2017.
At the Josep Gou Pavilion in Olot, the Spanish team, five-time European champions, started the match well, with a goal scored by Marc Oros in the 11th minute, but the Portuguese team did not concede and achieved the equalizer through Joao Almeida, in the 13th minute with a powerful shot.
With goalkeepers Bruno Torres and Marty Paleja in the spotlight, and their successive dangerous situations nullifying their goals, Portugal took the lead with a goal scored by Martim Nunes, in the 27th minute, and turned the result around.
In the 37th minute, taking advantage of the space allowed by the Spanish team, she set off in search of an equaliser, and Portugal advanced to 3-1 through Tomas Almeida and 4-1 through Samuel Araujo, who hit a direct free kick with a “sting”.
With their hands practically on the trophy they last won in 2017 and which was in Spain's possession, the Portuguese team led 5-1 in the last minute of the match through Martim Nunes and also conceded 5-2 on the conversion from a direct free kick by Nico Sama.
Portugal won its 15th title in this category in Olot, in Girona, which includes the country with the most titles in Spain, with 22 titles, in 43 editions. Italy completes the winners' podium with six wins.
To reach the final, Portugal beat France (6-2) in the semi-final and Austria (9-0) in the quarter-final, after finishing first in Group A, beating Italy (3-1) and Italy (3-1). France (6-0) and drawing with Spain 1-1.
Italy took third place after beating fourth-placed France 3-2. In the next play-off, Germany took fifth place after beating Switzerland 1-0 (sixth) and England took seventh place after beating Austria 3-0 (eighth).
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