Fertiberia draw against Puente Genil ‘doesn’t feel like enough’

Fertiberia handball Puerto Sagunto drew 27–27 against Ángel Ximénez Puente Genil, a team competing near the top of the table. The point feels insufficient for the red-and-whites, who had the ball to win in the final minute. The match was very even, but Nogués’s side spent more time ahead on the scoreboard.

The match began very evenly. The red-and-whites’ good defensive work and Pau Guitart’s saves in goal meant that Nogués’s side held a narrow lead on the scoreboard for almost the entire first half. However, in the 22nd minute, Puente Genil turned the score around by taking advantage of the hosts’ shooting errors and launching quick counter-attacks. Two consecutive goals from Corzo restored parity, but the Andalusians scored before the half-time whistle (13–14).

After the interval, the red-and-whites came out all guns blazing. In the first five minutes, they managed to move two goals ahead through their defence, a solid goalkeeping display and good attacking work. However, Puente Genil were not intimidated and levelled the score again in the 17th minute. The final minutes were heart-stopping, with help from the referees. Puente Genil levelled the match with two minutes remaining; either side could have won, but after a save from Roney, the ball belonged to the red-and-whites. The visiting goalkeeper also saved the final shot and the match ended all square.

The red-and-white coach said after the match: ‘It’s a shame. We had two chances at the end to win the match and it slipped away from us. In the end, you assess it and it’s a point, but we need more to move out of the bottom area and get a bit of breathing space. It was a competitive match; both teams played well. The score was very close throughout the 60 minutes and, in the end, one point for each side.’

‘I’m pleased with the team’s work, but in the end we lacked a little effectiveness in attack at decisive moments to win the match. At those moments, we needed to have clearer ideas. But we were very good in defence. The goalkeeping may not have been quite as good as on other days, but at least we managed to get something from the match’, Nogués concluded.

The next match will be on Saturday 27 March at El Sargal against Incarlopsa Cuenca. It will be a match against a team from the top half of the table, but one that they will compete in until the end.

Match details

Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto: Pau Guitart, Miguel Miralles, Nacho Mirallave (4), Leo Querín, Alex Gil, Camacho (1), Carou, Corzo (7), Lucas Aizen (3), Alegre (2), Dija (1), Roney, Óscar García, Chen (4), Kozina (4), Pozzer (1).

Ángel Ximénez Puente Genil: Alan (1), Jose Cuenca (1), De Hita, Juan Castro (4), Joao (1), Admir, Jesús Melgar (2), Javier García (3), Padilla (5), Mitic (1), Manuel Diaz (2), Vicente Manuel (4), Anderson (3), David Estepa.

Referees: Jordi Ausás Busquets and Miquel Florenza Virgili. Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto players Leo, Chen and Pozzer were excluded. For Ángel Ximénez Puente Genil, Anderson, Estepa, Mitic and Joao were excluded.

Score progression: 2–1, 4–4, 8–6, 8–7, 11–11, 13–14, 18–16, 19–18, 21–20, 23–22, 26–25, 27–27

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.