Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto fight hard but fall just short of earning a point

Fertiberia handball Puerto Sagunto lose 27-29 to an excellent Fraikin Granollers. In a closely contested match, Nogués' side managed to establish leads of up to four goals, but the match ultimately went the way of the Catalan team. The red-and-white side faced the match without Dija, who was injured in the final training session. Bruno Kozina also joined him on the sidelines after sustaining an injury in the 17th minute of the first half.

The match began very evenly, with two teams strong in defence. However, Fertiberia soon moved ahead on the scoreboard thanks to Roney Franzini's saves, the group's good defensive work and goals from Querin, Chen and Kozina, among others. In the 14th minute they established a four-goal lead, at which point the BM Granollers coach called a time-out that prompted the Catalans to raise their game and halt the red-and-white attack. Nogués' side maintained their lead until the 17th minute, when Bruno had to leave the court with an injury. The home side felt his absence in attack, as Granollers began to reduce the deficit and went into the break with the scoreboard reading 15-14.

After half-time, the match resumed as it had begun, with the scores very close. However, in the 12th minute the red-and-whites again moved three goals ahead through good defensive work, Roney's saves and a good attacking display from Corzo and Aizen. After the first 15 minutes of the match, mistakes and saves by the Granollers goalkeeper began to feature, allowing the Catalan side to counter-attack and level the match once more. From then on, the game was fiercely contested; luck and the referees were not on their side, and the balance ultimately tipped in favour of the visitors.

The next match will be on Wednesday 7 May at the Ovni against Barça. It is the first match of the second half of the season, postponed because of the Catalan side's European commitments.

Match details

Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto: Pau, Miguel Miralles, Mirallave (1), Leo Querin (5), Alex Gil, Óscar Camacho (1), Carou, Dani Martínez, Guillermo Corzo (4), Lucas Aizen (4), Toni Alegre, Roney, Óscar García (1), Chen Pomeranz (5), Kozina (2), Pozzer (4).

Balonmano Granollers: Marc, Jan, Edgar (5), Borja Lancina, Marc García, Pol Valera (2), Marquez (4), Adriá Martinez, Domingo, Oriol, Pol Sastre, Sergi Franco, Antonio García (4).

Period scores: 5-2, 4-4, 8-5, 10-7, 13-10, 15-14, 18-16, 19-19, 23-20, 24-26, 27-27, 27-29.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.