The first away point comes after a nail-biting finish

Tubos Villa de Aranda and Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto shared the spoils (27-27) in a match featuring truly nail-biting final minutes, corresponding to matchday seven of the Liga NEXUS ENERGÍA ASOBAL.

The match could not have started better for the red-and-white side, with Zungri forcing an attacking foul during Janosi’s attempted penetration in their first positional attack, followed by Capitán’s goal at the other end of the court. Pinillos equalised from a seven-metre throw, won by Mateo Arias from the left wing, who also forced Gonzalo Pérez’s suspension before the third minute.

The Sagunto side resisted while short-handed. However, minutes later they came up against Saric in goal, and the Aranda team subsequently punished the right side of the Valencian defence to create their first lead on the scoreboard (4-2, 5th minute). A counter-attack converted by Mateo Arias forced Sergio Mallo to call his first timeout in the sixth minute, with the score at 5-2.

The break had the desired effect, as the introduction of the second unit into the first line in the 40x20, with Arnau Fernández and Serradilla, together with a numerical advantage, brought the sides level again four minutes later at 6-6. The hosts regained a three-goal lead (9-6) in the 13th minute, thanks to goals from their pivots Pedro Martínez and Artur Parera. They had possession to extend the advantage to four, but Martín de Bolaños prevented it with a steal and goal.

Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto also caused damage from the pivot position, with Guille Soler scoring three goals after coming off the bench, bringing the scores level again and prompting Javi Márquez’s first timeout (11-11, 20th minute). The Valencian side regained the initiative and established a new two-goal lead (13-15) in the 25th minute, following Samuel Cordiés’s suspension, which Matheus de Novais and Dani Martínez exploited with an empty-net goal.

The gap could have grown to three goals, but it did not. Pelko enjoyed a spell in the spotlight, winning two attacking fouls and opening his account. Both sides saw players suspended, with Llorens on one side and David López on the other. Dani Martínez also had the chance to send his team into half-time three goals ahead, but Saric saved his throw and the interval arrived with the score at 14-16.

The second time was the charm and, in the first minute of the second half, Capitán made it 14-17 on the counter-attack. Both teams endured several minutes of attacking errors. Sergio Mallo’s charges remained stuck on eighteen goals, but Capitán came to the rescue with a nine-metre throw and another shot while supported (18-20, 39th minute).

Vasco Teixeira made his mark with several saves after replacing Saric. Capitán’s suspension in the 40th minute did not affect the red-and-white side, while Romanillos and Gabriel Navarro joined the scoring. The Sagunto side squandered a possession that would have restored their three-goal lead after the halfway point of the second half, and Tamayo, from the right wing, made it 22-23 in the 47th minute.

Romanillos began to make his presence felt. The two minutes shown to Pelko by the officials in the 48th minute did not unsettle the red-and-white side either and, with less than eleven minutes remaining, the score was 22-25. Thanks to an improved defence, Javi Márquez’s side joined the fight for the points in earnest and, with the scores level again, Sergio Mallo opted to stop the match (25-25, 54th minute).

The timeout did not have the expected effect, with a turnover seconds later. The nerves were palpable and it showed. They did not affect Arnau Fernández, who scored a lob to make it 25-26. Villarreal, who had not previously played, stopped Samuel Cordiés’s seven-metre attempt. His positional counterpart, Dani Martínez, was equally impressive. Capitán converted a shot with passive play called to put his side 26-27 ahead.

With fifty-three seconds remaining, Javi Márquez called a timeout to prepare the final play, but David López committed a footwork violation. Pelko had the winning goal in his hands, but missed his attempt. Samuel Cordiés did not, setting the final score at 27-27, after truly chaotic final seconds in which Parera recovered a centre throw, Pedro Martínez shot and Capitán blocked.

Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto’s next fixture will be away to Confía Base Oviedo on Wednesday, from 20:00, at the Polideportivo de Vallobín, in the first round of the LII Copa de S. M. el Rey of the Royal Spanish Handball Federation.

MATCH DETAILS:

27 – Tubos Villa de Aranda (14+13): Saric (gk), Tamayo (3), Jovic (2), Rosell (2), Janosi (3), Pinillos (3, 1p.) and Mateo Arias (1) — starting seven —; Martinsson, Vasco Teixeira (reserve gk), Megías, Pedro Martínez (2), Artur Parera (1), Francisco Pereira (1), David López (2), Samuel Cordiés (6, 2p.) and Berbel (1).

27 – Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto (16+11): Dani Martínez (1), Gonzalo Pérez, Zungri (1), Capitán (5), Llorens, Romanillos (3) and Martín de Bolaños (1) — starting seven —; Olivares (1), Olba, Gabriel Navarro (1), Pelko (1), Arnau Fernández (6, 2p.), Guille Soler (4), Matheus de Novais (1), Serradilla (2) and Villarreal (reserve gk).

Officials: Alberto Murillo Castro and Pablo García Sánchez (Andalusian Committee). The home players Rosell, Samuel Cordiés and David López, and the visiting players Gonzalo Pérez, Martín de Bolaños, Capitán, Pelko and Llorens were suspended.

Score every five minutes: 2-2, 6-6, 9-7, 11-11, 13-14, 14-16 (half-time); 17-18, 19-20, 21-22, 23-25, 25-25 and 27-27 (full-time).

Match information: Matchday seven fixture of the Liga NEXUS ENERGÍA ASOBAL, played at the Pabellón Santiago Manguán in front of around 2,000 spectators.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.