Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto do not falter against Teucro

They had to win to avoid serious trouble, and they did. Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto beat Teucro 34–29 in a match played at the Ovni on Saturday afternoon. The red-and-whites were superior to Teucro and the score reflected this throughout. Perhaps, if there is one criticism, the advantage could have been even greater had the ten poor minutes not occurred, but there is little to reproach a team that has beaten three direct rivals, drawn away at Benidorm and been defeated only by Granollers.

The match began with Fertiberia opening up a gap, with Bernatonis once again demonstrating the power and quality of his shooting arm. Add to that the solidity of Milos’s 6–0 defence and Bruixola’s immense performance, and the advantages began to emerge. After fifteen minutes, the red-and-whites were leading 9–6. At that point, the Galicians’ attacking options centred on connections with pivot Carró, who found openings through the red-and-white defence. Corzo also dominated the red-and-white attack and, without losing intensity, the lead continued to grow, reaching 19–12 at half-time—a scoreline not seen at the Ovni for a long time.

In the second half, the red-and-white protagonists continued in the same vein and, midway through the period, in the 13th minute, the 25–16 score made victory look certain. However, Domínguez, having seen Latorre throw everything into opening up the defence, ordered a double man-to-man marking on Corzo and Bernatonis, which narrowed the score to 30–27 in the 50th minute. But Bruixola, taking his save percentage to 35%, meant that only Edu Amoedo continued to find the net, with the Teucro left-hander eventually reaching eleven goals. He was supplied by a Balenciaga who showed flashes of his class perhaps too late for what this Teucro side needs, leaving Carlos García very isolated in the Galicians’ frontline attack. In this situation, a time-out by Milos and Corzo’s individual quality restored order, securing both the victory and the goal average at home.

In short, the victory moves Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto three points clear of the relegation zone. After next week’s international break, Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto’s next match will take them to León on a very special day for the Valencians. On Saturday 19 March, St Joseph’s Day, at 20:30, they will visit Ademar León at their Palacio, with the cameras of Movistar + broadcasting live.

Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto: Bruixola (35.6% saves) and Ibrahim, Bernatonis (11), Rubén Ruiz (3), Sladic, Pocholo (2), Berrios, Corzo (10), Pozzer (4), Alegre (1), Nebot (1), Sayad, Sasa, Fernández (1), Sorrentino (1) and Sarió.

SD Teucro: Amerigó (11% saves) and Delgado. Piriz, Balenciaga (4), Pichel, Chapela, Víctor, Fernández (1), Carró (3), García (6), Pedreira, Rial, Hernández (1), Amoedo (11) and Gómez (1).

Scores: 3–1, 5–3, 9–6, 14–9, 14–11, 19–12 (half-time), 22–14, 23–16, 25–19, 29–24, 30–27, 34–29. Full-time.

OfficialsLuque and Pascual (Catalonia), who excluded Bernatornis, Ruben, Sayad, Corzo, Pozzer and Sasa for Fertiberia Balonmano Puerto Sagunto, and Carró (3) and Dani Hernández for Teucro.

Ovni. 1,200 spectators. A minute’s silence was observed in memory of the mother of Fertiberia Factory Director Juan Arbona and in memory of the honorary president of the Fbmcv, Juan Torres.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.