Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto comprehensively beaten by direct rivals

Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto lost 31-21 this afternoon to Ángel Ximénez Puente Genil in a match in which the red-and-whites were not clinical enough in front of goal and were outplayed by an Andalusian side who recorded their fourth consecutive victory and opened up a gap between themselves and the relegation places.

The first five minutes were closely contested, with a tight 2-2 draw. It was not until after the first ten minutes that the hosts moved ahead (7-5), thanks to their excellent finishing against Bruixola’s goal. In response, Patxi Martí quickly called a time-out to disrupt the Pontenses’ rhythm when the score was 8-5. Midway through the first half, the red-and-whites managed to reduce the home side’s lead to just one goal (9-8) after increasing their defensive intensity. Fertiberia’s best spell came with a 0-4 run, including goals from Moriñigo and pivot Nacho Plaza, which set alarm bells ringing in the Andalusian camp. Ángel Ximénez Puente Genil soon responded with a 3-0 run and three consecutive saves from Arguilas. In the end, the hosts took advantage of the Valencians’ turnovers to go into the dressing room four goals ahead (16-12).

The second half began in the same vein: Fertiberia won possession but failed to score past Arguillas, who maintained the three-goal advantage. A red-and-white side lacking ideas were unable to take advantage of a numerical advantage on court to keep the gap down, and watched the Andalusians score two more goals to retain a comfortable lead (19-15). Despite the poor result, Fertiberia continued trying to breach the home defence, but on every occasion they came up against an outstanding Arguillas. The final minutes had a clear dominator in Ángel Ximénez Puente Genil, who took both points by a score of 31-21 without too much trouble.

Fertiberia’s next fixture will be the 19th round of the ASOBAL league against Fraikin BM Granollers next Saturday, 22 February, with cameras from Canal + (Sportmanía) in attendance.

Ángel Ximénez Puente Genil:Olea (1),Sánchez (5), Soto, Linares, Morales, Moya (6), Cuenca (6), Chirosa, Muñoz, De la Sierra (1), Fuentes (6), Río (3), Chispi (1), Arguillas and Demovic (2).

Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto: Bruixola, Samuel, Rubén Ruiz (4), Moriñigo (4), Tarrasó (1), Lluna, Berrios (1), Apelgren (2), Plaza (5), Toni Alegre, Nebot, Fernández, Dukic (3) and Roque (1).

Ángel Ximénez Puente Genil had Olea (D), Fuentes and Demovic excluded, while Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto had Dukic and Roque excluded.

Score at each five-minute interval:  2-2, 7-5, 9-8, 12-10, 14-10, 16-12 Half-time 16-13, 19-15, 20-16, 21-17, 26-19, 31-21 Full-time. Alcalde Miguel Salas Sports Hall.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.