Unable to halt IRUDEK Bidasoa Irún’s run

Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto fell 24–34 to IRUDEK Bidasoa Irún after a first half (11–20) in which the Irún side established a clear lead. The match, corresponding to the ninth round of the NEXUS ENERGÍA ASOBAL League, took place at the Port de Sagunt Pavilion.

The match began with two clear protagonists in each team’s positional attacks. On one side, Nevado, with an assist for Esteban Salinas and two goals, put his team ahead three times in the opening four minutes. At the other end of the court, Capitán responded with three goals from distance to keep the score level at 5–5.

Xavi González, converting a seven-metre throw, gave the Bidasoa side their first two-goal lead of the match, making it 4–6 in the eighth minute. Gabriel Navarro came up against Skrzyniarz with his attempt from nine metres, allowing the visitors an opportunity to extend their lead to three. However, Dani Martínez was in goal to deny right wing Cavero.

The latter made no mistake at the second attempt, with his team enjoying a numerical advantage after Olivares was left lying on the 40-by-20-metre court in the previous move following a jump shot. This goal led to the first timeout of the match, called by Sergio Mallo (5–8, 11th minute). Afterwards, Gabriel Navarro hit the crossbar and, seconds later, Nevado extended the gap to 5–9 in the 13th minute.

Magalhaes’s suspension in the same minute allowed the red-and-white side to close the gap from the penalty line. Arnau Fernández converted one, while Dani Martínez saved another from Xavi González. These were joined by a fine individual move from Serradilla and a second-wave attack finished by Martín de Bolaños. This sequence forced Álex Mozas to stop the match with the score at 8–9 in the 16th minute.

His timeout had the desired effect. Just three minutes later, the maximum four-goal gap returned at 8–12, led by the rotation of his first-choice back line with Mindegia and Duque coming on. Once the 20-minute mark had passed, the club received the best news of the evening: the Spanish top-flight debut of Macrino, a player from the reserve team competing in Primera Nacional.

The Gipuzkoa side’s 6:0 defence raised its performance level, even defending with one player fewer against Puerto Sagunto’s seven-against-six attack, and kept their opponents stuck on nine goals. Only Capitán managed to unsettle it. The score at the end of the first 30 minutes was 11–20.

After the restart, Sergio Mallo made two tactical changes compared with the first half: he set up an aggressive 3:3 defence and attacked with four back-court players without a pivot. The feeling was completely different. These changes were complemented by saves from Villarreal, who replaced Dani Martínez in goal (13–20, 32nd minute).

IRUDEK Bidasoa Irún went four minutes into the second half without scoring until Xavi González ended their drought from the seven-metre line. Pelko responded twice in the same fashion, prompting Álex Mozas to avoid any scares and call a timeout at 16–21 in the 38th minute.

The Madrid coach decided to attack with two pivots, Sladkowski and Jevtic, but the formula did not quite work either, as the Valencian side changed their defence again, this time to a 5:1, with Martín de Bolaños and Gonzalo Pérez alternating in the advanced position, practically level with the centre circle.

Xavi González was unaffected, scoring four of the first five goals for the yellow shirts in the second 30-minute period. This brief surge left the match almost decided (18–25, 45th minute). With ten minutes remaining, the game entered a period of exchanged goals in which Duque and Esteban Salinas dominated.

Capitán did likewise, punishing the Gipuzkoa side three times in succession for being late with their substitutions, scoring three goals from the centre throw into an empty net. Macrino was given a substantial number of minutes before the final whistle, with the score ending 24–34.

Despite the defeat, Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto will remain outside the relegation places to the División de Honor Plata for another week, sitting 13th with a total of five points. Next weekend they will play at home again, welcoming REBI Cuenca from 18:00.

MATCH DETAILS:

24 – Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto (11+13): Dani Martínez, Pelko (3, 2p.), Gabriel Navarro (2), Llorens, Romanillos (1), Capitán (9) and Martín de Bolaños (3) – starting seven –, Olivares (1), Olba (1), Arnau Fernández (3, 1p.), Villarreal (GK), Gonzalo Pérez, Guille Soler, Matheus de Novais, Macrino and Serradilla (1).

34 – IRUDEK Bidasoa Irún (20+14): Skrzyniarz, Cavero (3), Mugica (1), Gorka Nieto (2), Esteban Salinas (6), Nevado (4) and Xavi Túa – starting seven –, Jevtic, Peciña, Xavi González (6, 5p.), Duque (6), Maciel (GK), Jon Ander Iribar (3), Sladkowski (2), Mindegia (1) and Magalhaes.

Referees: Roland Sánchez Bordetas (Catalan Referees’ Association) and José Manuel Iniesta Castillo (Valencian Referees’ Association). The home player Llorens and visiting players Magalhaes and Jon Ander Iribar were suspended.

Score every five minutes: 3–4, 5–7, 7–9, 8–12, 10–16, 11–20 (half-time), 13–21, 16–22, 18–24, 21–28, 24–32, 24–34.

Match information: NEXUS ENERGÍA ASOBAL League ninth-round match played at the Port de Sagunt Pavilion in front of around 900 spectators.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.