A great deal of Ademar León for a brave Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto

Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto suffered a comprehensive 27–37 defeat against Abanca Ademar León in a match played this evening at the Ovni.

Fertiberia could not cope with the León side’s firepower, which is certainly destined for the European places if it continues playing like this. The match was still competitive in the first half, when the teams were evenly matched, although León’s small leads suggested that their greater squad depth and excellent defence would ultimately prevail. Nevertheless, there was still a match to play at half-time because, in the exchange of goals in a relentless match played at great speed, the León side went in 15–18 ahead, nothing decisive but certainly revealing.

After the restart, Fertiberia held on for another five minutes and even reduced the deficit to two goals, 18–20 in the 35th minute, thanks to an outstanding Ibrahim Moral, the Valencians’ most prominent player with a 36% save percentage. However, the high tempo punished every mistake, and Abanca Ademar León have remarkable squad depth: when Cupara was struggling in goal, an outstanding Biosca came on; when the Valencian defence kept Carrillo quiet, Juanin showed his quality on the wing. With two high-level players in every position and professional physical preparation, it was impossible for this current Fertiberia side to last sixty minutes against an Ademar from another level. The match was effectively decided after several Biosca saves enabled Juanin and Huerta to move the score from 18–20 to 19–24. From then on, the red-and-white side collapsed and could no longer get close, leading to the final 27–37, which seems too harsh considering what was seen at the Ovni for 40 minutes.

This defeat brings Fertiberia’s unbeaten run at the Ovni to an end, and the team now faces a tough schedule with a visit to another side in excellent form, Villa de Aranda.

Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto: Bruixola, Ibrahim, Bernatonis, Sladic (4), Pocholo (4), Sayad, Berrios (2), Pozzer (1), Corzo (8), Toni (4), Nebot, Angel, Sasa (3), Piró and Sario (1). Abanca Ademar Leon: Cupara, Biosca, Juanin (6), Carou (2), Perez, Piñero (4), Vieyra (4), Santos (8), Carrillo (5), Acacio (1), Huerta (3), Mikel (3), Zildzic (1), Garcia and Tot

Referees: Manuel Casado Fernández – Manuel Vera Ávila. Dukic was suspended for Fertiberia, and Piñeiro (2) and Vyeray García for Abanca Ademar León.

Score at five-minute intervals:   3–4, 5–6, 8–8, 11–12, 13–14, 15–18 Half-time, 18–20, 20–24, 22–28, 23–32, 26–36, 27–37 Full-time. Municipal Internucleos Sports Hall. Full house. 1,500 spectators.

Notes: The Queen of the Aragonese Centre of Puerto Sagunto, María Martí, took the ceremonial throw-off in the presence of the Mayor of Sagunto, Francesc Fernandez. Match broadcast live on Movistar +

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.