Cruel ending brings a second consecutive defeat

Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto lose 32-33 to Blendio Sinfín at the Port de Sagunt Arena after poor starts to both halves on the third-to-last División de Honor Plata matchday.

The red-and-whites began with numerous attacking errors, particularly in their connection with pivot Álex Pozzer. Santander exploited them to lead 1-5 after eight minutes, with Dani Martínez preventing a larger gap. Sergio Mallo called timeout amid the continuing attacking problems.

The pause had no effect and the visitors moved five ahead at 4-9 in the 14th minute. Pol Quiroga’s saves and Federico Saud Sulak’s goals sustained the margin. Better defending and goals from David García in positional attack and Antonio Capitán in transition enabled the hosts to equalise at 11-11 and lead 12-11 in the 23rd minute. Half-time arrived at 14-14.

As in the first half, Fertiberia struggled to settle and Sinfín produced a 1-5 run in five minutes, helped by two consecutive numerical advantages. The resulting exchange favoured José Manuel Herrero Lon’s players, while Marcos Aguilella’s accuracy from seven metres prevented the hosts closing the gap.

The pattern repeated as the Valencians fought back after the midpoint of the half. Arnau Fernández made it 28-28 in the 52nd minute. With five seconds left Álex Pozzer received a direct red card and Marcos Aguilella converted the resulting seven-metre throw for a 32-33 win.

Fertiberia next visit Balonmano Servigroup Benidorm at the Palau d’Esports l’Illa de Benidorm at 7.00 pm on the unified penultimate matchday.

MATCH DETAILS:

Fertiberia Balonmano Puerto Sagunto (32): Juani Villarreal (-), Olivares (-), Paco Ruiz (-), Jakob Pelko (-), Dani Martínez (-), Pozzer (2), Arnau Fernández (4), Julen Urruzola (-), Gonzalo (1), David García (5), Matheus de Novais (1), Serradilla (-), Capitán (9), Zungri (-), Carlos Martín (3), Teixidor (7).

Blendio Sinfín (33): Víctor Doval (), Gustavo Alonso (-), Javier Valverde (4), Marcos Domínguez (5), Marcos Aguilella (10), Adrián Urdiales (1), Luis Pla (1), Pol Quiroga (-), Isaac Díaz (1), Hugo Revuelta (-), Ángel Basualdo (-), Federico Saud Sulak (5), Sergio Rubio (3), Matias Payá (3).

Officials: José Alberto and Enrique Javier Romero Cruz.

Suspensions: Jakob Pelko, Alex Pozzer, Arnau Fernández, David García, Carlos Martín, Javier Valverde, Marcos Domínguez, Adrián Urdiales and Federico Saud Sulak (2) received two minutes; Alex Pozzer received a direct red card.

Scores: 1-2, 2-6, 5-9, 7-11, 13-11, 14-14 (half-time); 15-18, 18-20, 20-23, 25-26, 29-29 and 32-33 (full-time).

Event: División de Honor Plata matchday 28 at the Port de Sagunt Arena in front of approximately 1,400 spectators.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.