Fertiberia return empty-handed from Puente Genil

Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto failed to secure their second consecutive away win, losing 30–25 to Ángel Ximénez Puente Genil. In a match that began evenly but was dominated by the home team from the tenth minute onwards, while the red-and-whites ‘were trailing’. The positive aspect was Bruno Kozina’s debut, with two goals, while in goal the young international Dani Martinez played his first minutes in the Sacyr ASOBAL League.

The first half remained even for the first 10 minutes. From then on, Puente Genil took control of the match and, although the red-and-whites fought until the end, they lacked the drive to stage a comeback. They needed to be better in defence and less predictable in attack, according to the manager. They went into half-time 16–11 down and, after play resumed, managed to get back into the match but could not complete the comeback.

After the match, red-and-white coach Vicent Nogués said:‘ To win in Puente Genil, you need much more than what we produced. I think we lacked spirit; the team fought from start to finish, but without spirit and without fully believing that it was possible. We were trailing for almost the entire match. From the tenth minute onwards, the match turned against us. We tried different things that did not work out, and I think the home side played a very good match, breaking down all the situations we put before them. I think they deserved their victory’.

‘We never stopped fighting; we changed the defence and the team continued to show grit and determination. But it is true that Puente Genil kept breaking down the situations we presented to them, and they were very good in attack. We could not stop them, and that was one of the keys, so it was much easier for them’, Vicent added.

The team came out better in the second half and seemed ready to attempt a comeback, but according to the red-and-white coach, they never fully believed in it: ‘That is my feeling; we lacked the spark and grit that the team conveys. We did not defend with our usual attitude; we were trailing and behind Puente Genil. We lost the hallmark that had defined us in recent matches. In attack we were a little predictable, too hurried and made errors, and here in Puente Genil, that makes it impossible to win a match’, concluded Vicent Nogués.

Match details:

Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto: Pau Guitart, Miralles, Mirallave (2), Leo Querin, Alex Gil, Camacho (1), Carou (1), Dani Martinez, Aizen, Toni Alegre (4), Roney, Oscar García (3), Chen (8), Bruno Kocina (3), Pozzer (3).

Ángel Ximénez Puente Genil: Alan, Jose Cuenca (1), Alvaro de Hita, Juan Castro (3), Da Silva (7), Admir, Antonio Pineda, Javier García (2), Xavi Tua (6), Padilla, Mitik (4), Diaz Mata, Poveda (2), Anderson (2), Alvaro Muñoz, David Estepa (3).

Scores: 3-2, 5-5, 7-6, 10-7, 12-19, 16-11

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.