Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto lose to bottom side Handbol Esplugues

❤️🫀
Fertiberia Balonmano Puerto Sagunto lose 26-23 to Handbol Esplgues. The Catalans’ first league victory came in a match they started by taking the lead, and the red-and-whites were unable to come back. Despite the defeat, Toni Malla’s men remain in 5th place with 10 points, meaning they occupy a promotion place to ASOBAL.

The match began with the home side taking the lead on the scoreboard. Esplugues, in need of points and strong at home, made things far from easy for the red-and-whites. Goals from Nolasco (4), Alfonso (3) and Del Valle (4) were not enough to turn the score around, and they went into half-time 14-12 down.

After the interval, the red-and-whites remained two goals behind until consecutive suspensions for Manzano and Sedano gave the Catalans the impetus to move five goals clear. Toni Malla’s side reduced the deficit again through goals from Soares (4), Díaz Ledo (2) and Del Valle, but when they got within two goals, further misses in front of goal allowed the home side to regain their advantage, and they ultimately left Esplugues empty-handed.

After the match, red-and-white coach Toni Malla said he was ‘angry because I think we went out to feel things out and see what happened. I am upset by the attitude; you have to know how to take a step forward. You cannot miss so many shots when we also know how the goalkeeper operates. I suppose things will look different on Monday. The only positive is that this round’s results have helped us remain fifth, full stop. The match against Málaga is a final because we would also carry the points with us if we remain near the top. We cannot go out on court to feel things out. We have to go out to win matches with confidence, attitude and aggression, and we did not have that, whereas they did. They knew it was their last chance to lift their heads, and they did it well. We played hastily, nervously and immaturely. We are repeating things we had corrected. We have to keep working and improving. This team never tires of working, and there is a lot of league still to play; we must keep improving, which is the only thing we can do.’

MATCH DETAILS:

Finestrelles SC Handbol Esplugues: Roberto Casero, Ferran Cisneros (2), Victor Torres (3), Jon Enguino (1), Victori García, Juan Antonio Guzman, Pol Calvo, Carlos Martín (1), Mario Rivas (3), Sergi Guma (6), Hector Fortuño (3), Ignacio Santos, Pol Casanovas, Sergi Pérez (2), Marc Bisbe (1), Marti Palet (4).

Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto: Ignasi Admella, Alfonso (3), Ortega (2), Del Valle (4), Aron Díaz Ledo (2), Cunha (1), Soares (4), Del Rincón, Daniel Martínez, Nolasco (4), Manzano (1), Daniel Sedano, Luis Arnau, Poveda (2), Matic Pangerc.

Score progression: 2-1, 5-4, 8-5, 11-7, 12-9, 14-12, 16-13, 17-16, 21-16, 21-17, 22-19, 26-23.

Referees: Jorge Rodríguez and Alejandro Núñez. Marti Palet was suspended for Esplugues. For Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto, Alfonso, Del Valle, Manzano (2) and Sedano were suspended.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.