Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto still lost at the Ovni

Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto have once again been beaten at the Ovni, losing 30–33 to a Guadalajara side that made better use of its resources.

The Valencians have once again produced a poor performance in front of their supporters in a case of déjà vu that leaves all the alarm bells ringing in their fight to remain in the Bauhaus Asobal league for another season. The match began with two consecutive misses against Hombrados, and that seemed to be enough to make Martí’s men excessively nervous. With an attack superbly directed by Montoya at that point, the purple shirts needed very little to create “2 against 1” situations with Silva. The ABC of handball, which Fertiberia seem to have forgotten, with scandalous defensive weakness—and today they did not have Ibrahim in inspired form to cover up their attacking shortcomings. Nevertheless, the red-and-white attackers maintained their offensive level, not through their play, which was utter chaos, but through individual ability, especially from Bernatonis and Tarraso, who finished the red-and-white combinations more through quality than organisation. Corzo’s absence from the attacking options was not seen as the worst of their problems; the ease with which Guadalajara entered their own area was. In the circumstances, the 14–16 half-time score was the best thing that had happened to Pachi Martí’s men. Remaining in the match was a miracle after what had been seen at the Ovni. The interval did not initially resolve matters, but individual actions and turnovers by the purple shirts allowed the Valencians’ final display of fighting spirit to take the score to 21–20. The Ovni grew restless, expecting the match to turn in their favour from the twelfth minute onwards. Nothing could have been further from the truth, because in the end the side with organisation and judgement overcomes adversity, while those relying on individual efforts succumb. Lopez Rey and Montoya continued giving lessons in the centre, and all the Alcarreño attacks ended successfully, taking the score to 21–26—at which point even the most devout Ovni believer thought a comeback was impossible. By then, Bernatonis was exhausted, and only the occasional flash from Sladic kept alive the possibility not of a comeback, but of avoiding embarrassment.

In the end, another red-and-white disappointment, with the first half of the season concluding on Saturday at the newly promoted Go Fit of Santander, in another all-out battle. The momentum must change considerably if the red-and-whites are to reach the Christmas break with more than the meagre eight points that leave them in the relegation place.

Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto: Ibrahim, Chueca, Bernatonis (10), R. Ruiz (1), Sladic (5), Pocholo (1), Tarraso (4), Sayad (2), Berrios, Pozzer, Nebot (2), Angel (4), Sasa (1), Sorrentino, Piró, Sario

BM Guadalajara:Parra (4), Mellado (1), Marquez (3), Montoya (4), Lopez Rey, Barbero, Levente (2), Bozalongo (7), Eceolaza, Chiuffa (5), Iker (1), Moya, Sedano, Hombrados, Mikel and Silva (6)

Referees: Sebastián Fernández Molina and Alberto Murillo Castro. Fertiberia players Tarraso, Nebot, Angel and Sasa, and Guadalajara player Marquez, were suspended.

Score at five-minute intervals: 0–3, 2–5, 6–7, 7–11, 10–14, 14–16 Half-time 15–17, 20–19, 22–25, 25–28, 26–30, 30–33 Full-time.

 Municipal Internucleos Pavilion. 100 spectators

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.