Fertiberia stand up to Benidorm but fail to win the cup

Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto stood up to Asobal side BM Benidorm but were left without the Copa Comunitat Valenciana after losing 32–27. The semi-finalists produced a great first half but were unable to finish the job in the second. The match began with two teams in very different circumstances: an Asobal Benidorm who had assembled a squad capable of challenging for European places, against a Fertiberia side from the Silver Division of Honour determined to return to the top tier of Spanish handball. Despite this, the differences between the two sides were not particularly evident, and the red-and-whites led for almost the entire first half. The Valencians took to the Esperanza Lag court determined to take the cup back to Puerto de Sagunto. They were not intimidated by facing the reigning champions, who had taken the trophy from them for three consecutive seasons, and demonstrated fast-paced play led by Dija in the centre and finished with goals from Corzo, Dorado and Pocholo, the latter on the counter-attack. The tough defence helped Pocholo score three goals in the first half, but it also enabled Benidorm to reduce the deficit by scoring from penalties. The referees were almost as strict as Nogués’s players, awarding as many as seven-metre throws. Zupo, seeing that Bruixola was preventing his players’ shots from going in, called two time-outs. The first achieved little; the second helped Benidorm draw level in the 25th minute and take a one-goal lead, but almost on the hooter Montoya scored to send both teams into the break level at 15–15. After the half-time break, both sides came out determined not to lose the cup. Nogués’s men were the first to take the lead, with goals from Montoya. But Benidorm’s goalkeeper began saving shot after shot, which weakened the red-and-whites’ attack, and they went without scoring for two periods. Zupo’s men took advantage to build a sizeable lead, and by the time the red-and-whites tried to come back, it was too late. It should be noted that in the second half the coach could not call on Corzo and Camacho: the former because of a bruise to his left thigh and the latter after suffering a cut to his chin that required stitches. BM Benidorm: Marchan (4), Porras (1), Rivero (1), Robler (1), Pavan (7), Dapiran (2), Conca, Grau (4), Revin, Abinzano, Cabanas (10), Calderon, Vial, Skillhamhar, Mijuskovic, Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto: Montoya (5), Cruz (2), Mirallave, Pocholo (5), Querín (2), Jaka (2), Dorado (2), Bruixola, Chueca, Corzo (5), Oscar García (2), Camacho, Ángel López (1), Manzano (1), Celorrio, Ribes. Periods: 4–5, 7–10, 8–10, 10–13, 13–14, 15–15, 17–19, 21–21, 25–22, 28–22, 29–23, 32–227 Referees: Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto players excluded: Pocholo, Querin, Jaka, Marcos; BM Benidorm players excluded: Marchan, Robler, Revin, Calderon. Match played at the Esperanza Lag pavilion, 350 spectators

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.