Alser BM Puerto Sagunto get under Granollers’ skin

Alser BM Puerto Sagunto earned another draw at the Ovni against the league’s surprise package and third-placed side, Fraikin BM Granollers. The Ovni and its magic prove difficult for even the strongest teams. The match was evenly contested and Granollers never led by more than three goals, although they always held the advantage on the scoreboard.

In the first half, Granollers took advantage of their goalkeeper Ohlander’s performance to launch counter-attacks, as is traditional for this team, with Svitlica repeatedly beating the goal defended by Bruixola. Even so, Alser never left the match, sustained by their first line, with Prce and Backovic providing the goals. Half-time: 14–16, leaving everything open.

In the second period, the home 6–0 defence improved and allowed Bruixola to come into the game and launch counter-attacks towards a specialist like Jorge Sanchez, who produced an immense performance. He was the one who made the rest of the red-and-white team and the crowd believe that it was possible once again. The traditional war cry of the red-and-white tide, “Yes, we can, yes, we can”, rang out from the stands. With Muiña joining the party, scoring four goals with an arm in need of surgery, and Sifre holding his nerve from seven metres, the red-and-whites reached the final two and a half minutes at 28–28. Those were heart-stopping minutes, as the referees joined in with controversial decisions and left Alser with one fewer player after a, to say the least, strict exclusion of Backovic. Even so, Antonio Garcia’s international goal, which put his team 28–29 ahead, was answered by the class’s cleverest player, Tim Bauer, who scored 29–29 while his team were down a player. There was still time for one final Granollers possession, but they could not take advantage of it because of the home side’s defensive intensity and a devoted crowd.

In short, it was a magnificent point that put Alser six points clear, with the survival goal difference awaiting the Toledo match in Logroño. On Saint Joseph’s Day, there will be another match at the Ovni, against another illustrious visitor: fourth-placed Cuatro Rayas Valladolid, who will test the intensity of this recently promoted side, which nevertheless has ambitions to remain in this league for many years.

Alser BM Puerto Sagunto: Bruixola and Samuel. Backovic (4), Serrano, Ruiz, Dukic, Sifré (4), Lapcevic, Tarrasó (1), Muiña (4), Prce (7), Jorge (5), Angel (1), Latorre (1) and Bauer (2).

Fraikin BM Granollers: Ohlander and Perez. Blanxart, Malasinkas (5), Raigal (1), Ferrer, Garcia (5), Campos (2), Nenadic (1), Resina (2), Puig, Svitilica (7), Grundsten (1) and Nikcevic.

Every 5 minutes: 2–3, 4–5, 5–7, 8–10, 10–13, 14–16. Half-time. 17–19, 20–20, 22–23, 25–25, 26–26, 29–29. Full-time

Referees: Fernandez and Garcia. Backvic, Duckic, Sifre, Lapcevic (2) and Angel were excluded for Alser, and Campos, Nenadic and Puig (2) for Fraikin.

Municipal Sports Pavilion. 1,200 spectators.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.