We will host the promotion tournament

Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto hold their nerve to beat Attica 21 Hotels OAR Coruña 28-27 at the Port de Sagunt Arena on the final unified División de Honor Plata matchday.

The victory leaves the red-and-whites second with 44 points and means they will host the Nexus Energía ASOBAL League promotion tournament on 23-24 May, facing Anaitasuna in the first semi-final.

Both teams failed with their first attack before Jakob Pelko opened the scoring from right wing. Four goals shared by left wing Luis Horcajada and pivot Sergio Torío put Coruña ahead 3-4 after five minutes.

The hosts immediately replied with a 3-0 run, regaining control and moving two ahead at 6-4 through Paco Ruiz and Nicolás Zungri. An exchange of goals then allowed the visitors to narrow the gap.

Álex Chan’s seven-metre throw restored parity at 11-11. Oriol Teixidor entered and scored twice in succession to open a three-goal gap at 14-11, forcing Nando González to call timeout in the 19th minute.

Dani Martínez’s saves enabled the hosts to run more freely and maintain a three-goal advantage, although the visitors kept finding Sergio Torío and reached half-time at 20-18.

Scoring slowed after the restart. Luis Horcajada struck the first second-half goal in the 34th minute and Matheus de Novais the first Valencian goal in the 37th. Paco Ruiz restored a three-goal lead from seven metres at 22-19.

The connection with pivot Alex Pozzer produced new leads of four (24-20) and five goals (25-20), prompting another Nando González timeout.

Martínez’s high save percentage continued to sustain the hosts, but OAR Coruña moved within three at 26-23 in the 51st minute and Sergio Mallo called timeout.

Three long-range Gabriel Navarro shots made it 27-26 before Luis Horcajada equalised with under three minutes left. Dani Martínez then saved Álex Chan’s seven-metre throw to settle the match at 28-27.

MATCH DETAILS:

Fertiberia Balonmano Puerto Sagunto (28): Juani Villarreal (-), Olivares (-), Paco Ruiz (5), Jakob Pelko (2), Dani Martínez (-), Pozzer (2), Arnau Fernández (1), Julen Urruzola (1), Gonzalo (2), David García (-), Matheus de Novais (2), Serradilla (1), Capitán (4), Zungri (4), Carlos Martín (1), Teixidor (3).

Attica 21 Hotels OAR Coruña (27): Alberto Roldán (-), Álex Chan (7), Gabriel Navarro (4), Javi Rodríguez (3), Luis Horcajada (7), Diego Martínez (-), Álex Malid (-), Rodrigo Ortega (1), Álex Conde (-), Mile Mijuskovic (-), Israel Marín (-), Sergio Torío (5).

Officials: Óscar García Camino and Alfredo Arcos Adeva.

Scores: 3-4, 8-7, 11-10, 14-12, 18-14, 20-18 (half-time); 20-19, 22-19, 24-21, 26-21, 27-25 and 28-27 (full-time).

Event: División de Honor Plata matchday 30 at the Port de Sagunt Arena in front of approximately 1,500 spectators. Before the match, both captains presented gifts to the retiring officials.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.