A heavy 0-5 defeat to C.H. Jaca
HC Porto suffered a heavy 0-5 defeat to C.H. Jaca, continuing their unfortunate trend against their rivals. Porto, already crippled by injuries, fielded only 11 players and two goalies, making the uphill battle even steeper. The situation worsened when Pauls Zvirbulis, a key player, was injured early in the game, forcing him to leave and further weakening the team.
Porto’s recurring nightmare against Jaca persisted as they conceded a goal within the first two minutes, a pattern seen in all five of their previous encounters. The first six minutes were disastrous, with Porto conceding three quick goals due to a sluggish start. However, they regrouped and generated multiple scoring chances, showing resilience despite the odds. Unfortunately, their efforts were in vain as Jaca added one goal in each of the remaining periods.
Eriks Ozollapa, despite being a significant presence on the ice, had a night to forget. He missed seven clear chances to score, continuing his goalless season—a first since 1998. While Porto’s determination was evident, their inability to capitalize on opportunities and their recurring slow starts against Jaca ultimately sealed their fate. This match highlighted both their fighting spirit and the need for improvement in critical moments.
