Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto pull off a remarkable result against Abanca Ademar León

Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto drew 20–20 with Abanca Ademar León.

Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto are not being allowed to win a match at the Ovni. The supporters were completely devoted to their team and utterly outraged by the refereeing performance. It seems that the officials wait until they reach the Ovni before lowering their standards, because this is outrageous. If Luque and Pascual made fools of themselves at the Ovni, Ballano and Dueñas performed very well until, coincidentally, they stopped doing so. It seems that the score affects the officials’ performance, leading them to make errors unbecoming of the Asobal League.

That unfortunate refereeing performance, the quality of the opponents, the absences of Spiljak and Berrios, Sorrentino’s injury midway through the first half, and the exhaustion of a short squad condemned to play at a European pace were not enough to stop the Valencians from getting the better of an Ademar León side that could do no more than draw with four players on the Valencians’ court.

The heroic defending of a team with a goalkeeper who saves until he is bored made it possible for an makeshift back line featuring two small academy players, Ruiz and Alegre, and a limited Pacheco, to stand up to an unbeaten side such as León.

To single anyone out at Fertiberia today would be unfair to everyone who played, because they fought for every ball as only a modest but proud team can.

For León, in addition to Costoya’s bursts and one or two spells from Carou, their attacking impotence should be highlighted, showing how this Costoya-led Ademar struggle against fierce defences.

Now it is time to lick their wounds and savour the point: they have now taken four from eight, an average sufficient to keep them in the comfortable area of the table.

Fertiberia’s next match will be on Sunday 1 October at the legendary Artaleku against promoted side Bidasoa de Irun.

Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto: Bruixola (45% saves), Ibrahim (2 from 3 seven-metre throws) and Chueca. Ruben (2), Inestrosa (1), Pocholo (1), Tarraso (2), Angel (1), Pozzer (6), Alegre (2), Angel (1), Linares (2), Sorrentino (3), Pacheco, Piro and Sario.

Abanca Ademar Leon: Biosca (25%) and Cupara (57%). Simonet, Juanin (2), Carou, Arce (1), Piñeiro (2), Vyeira (2), Sampaio (2), Fernandez, Juanjo (3), Jaime (2), Huerta (1), Garcia and Costoya (4).

Officials: Ballano and Dueñas. For Fertiberia, Ruben (2), Tarraso (1), Pozzer and Angel were excluded. All in the second half, with two of them in the 58th minute. For León, Carou, Vieyra and David Fernandez were all excluded in the first half, and none in the second.

Score every 5 minutes:1-1, 4-3, 6-6, 8-7, 10-9, 11-11. Half-time. 11-12, 13-13, 16-13, 16-18, 18-18, 20-20. Full-time

 Ovni. 1,000 spectators.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.