Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto narrowly miss out on a draw in Cuenca

Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto handball narrowly miss out on a draw (31-30) against Incarlopsa Balonmano Ciudad Encantada. Nogués’s side were behind on the scoreboard for almost the entire match, trailing by as many as seven goals, but fought until the end and came within a point of earning a draw in the final second.

The red-and-whites started ahead on the scoreboard thanks to saves by Pau Guitart and goals from Dija and Kozina. But after two attacking errors and a red-and-white suspension, the home side levelled the match. From that moment, Cuenca’s defence and Leo Maciel began to make things difficult for Vicent Nogués’s side, who fell four goals behind. The red-and-white coach called a timeout, but Cuenca remained strong in defence while the Valencians had plenty of doubts in attack, until the home side moved six goals ahead. Taking advantage of Cuenca’s suspensions and two consecutive saves by Guitart, Chen and Toni Alegre reduced the deficit with their goals. Despite this, they went into half-time 17-13 down.

After the break, Fertiberia made an effort to stay in the match, but Cuenca once again moved six goals ahead. However, in the 21st minute, Fertiberia stepped up a gear and took advantage of Cuenca’s mistakes to move within three goals. Roney’s saves were also key to the red-and-whites getting back into the match. The finish was thrilling. The red-and-whites moved to within one goal with Toni’s counter-attack goal and Carou’s strike. Toni Alegre came close to equalising on the counter-attack in the final second, but a block by Pizarro prevented it.

Match details

Icarlopsa Balonmano Ciudad Encantada: Pablo Ariel Simonet (3), Pablo Vainstein, Martín Ariel Doldán (1), Pérez de Inestros (2), Hugo López (3), Moscariello (5), Samuel Ibáñez, Thiago Alves (2), Carlos Fernández, Davide Bulzamini (7), Nacho Moya del Saz (2), Pizzarro (4); Sergio López (2), Maciel, Taravilla.

Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto: Pau Guitart, Miguel Mirallez, Mirallave (3), Leo Querín (1), Alex Gil (2), Camacho, Carou (3), Guillermo Corzo, Aizen, Alegre (4), Dija Cruz (2), Roney, Óscar García, Chen Pomeranz (10), Bruno Kozina (5), Pozzer.

Referees: Óscar Raluy López - Ángel Sabroso Ramírez. Chen, Bruno, Carou and Leo were suspended for Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto. For Incarlopsa Balonmano Ciudad Encantada, Doldán, Moscariello (2) and Davide were suspended.

Scoring intervals: 3-3, 6-4, 10-6, 12-8, 14-11, 17-13, 19-14, 22-16, 24-19, 28-22, 29-26, 31-30

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.