Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto denied a point in Vigo

Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto secured their first away point against Academia Octavio of Vigo by drawing 34–34. With 39 seconds remaining, the red-and-whites, wearing their orange second kit today, were two goals ahead. With 15 seconds remaining, the score was 33–34, and two incidents, one of them bizarre, determined the final outcome. With five seconds remaining, Fernando Latorre prevented the throw-off; the Santiuste brothers, the referees, awarded a two-minute exclusion, and with Latorre already sitting silently on the bench, one referee decided to do something referees dislike so much when it suits them. He decided to re-referee the incident and showed him a direct red card. As well as costing the team a point, the incident will probably mean Latorre is unavailable for the vital match against Cuatro Rayas Valladolid next Saturday. A seven-metre awarded almost as the clock reached zero allowed Cerillo to make it 34–34.

The match was evenly balanced and, according to sources within the red-and-white delegation, whenever it was not, the match officials took it upon themselves to correct the balance. Two consecutive exclusions just before half-time squandered a four-goal lead, leaving the teams level at the interval. In the second half, quite apart from the refereeing performance, the red-and-whites struggled against the mixed defence ordered by the Vigo coach to mark the veteran red-and-white playmaker Latorre. Even so, the Valencian side's ability to pull away was notable today, and with seven minutes remaining the scoreboard showed a comfortable 26–31 lead for the Valencians. However, a spectacular finish from Vigo captain Cerillo and their young centre-back Pablo Cacheda gave an attacking shape to the home-biased refereeing tune.

The ending described above left a bittersweet taste after a great performance by Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto, who have linked two consecutive unbeaten matches in the league for the first time, against direct relegation rivals. They are now two points clear of the current bottom side and the red-and-whites' next opponents, Cuatro Rayas Valladolid. Fertiberia have a golden opportunity to put some distance between themselves and their rivals next Saturday from 18:00, with the match broadcast live on Nou Dos.

ACADEMIA OCTAVIO: Lloria, Juárez (2), Rafa Dasilva (2), Vargas, Jabato, Víctor Frade (1) and Fran González (1) —starting team— Chantada (GK), Alemany (1), Filip Kallman (8), Cerillo (10, 2 seven-metre goals), Cacheda (8), Germán and Macías.

FERTIBERIA PUERTO SAGUNTO: Pablo Hernández, Javier Tarrasó (3), Chernov (2), Latorre (4), Sergio Vallés (7), Iker Serrano (6) and Moriñigo (6) —starting team— Bruixola (GK), Samuel (GK), Alegre, Ángel Fernández, Rubén Ruiz (1), Sergio Berrios (1) and Milasevic (4).

Score: 1–3, 6–6, 8–9, 10–13, 11–16, 16–16 (half-time); 20–19, 21–22, 21–24, 24–27, 28–31 and 34–34.

Referees: Jesús and Jorge Escudero Santiuste (Cantabrian officials). For Octavio, they excluded Jabato, Macías (2), Cacheda and coach Quique Domínguez; for Puerto Sagunto, Iker Serrano, Sergio Berrios, Milasevic, Sergio Vallés, Chernov and Latorre, who was disqualified.

As Travesas Municipal Sports Centre: 1,000 spectators.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.