A giant step towards establishing themselves near the top of the table

Fertiberia Balonmano Puerto Sagunto continue to win every match played at the Port de Sagunt Sports Hall after defeating Anaitasuna 25–24 in the nineteenth round of the Men’s Silver Honour Division.

Dani Martínez returned in goal in the red-and-white starting seven, while the recovered Antonio Capitán featured at the heart of the defence. The first home goal did not arrive until the fourth minute, largely due to a surprising pressing defence from the Pamplona side, which alternated between 5–1, 4–2 and 3–3 formations. The visitors opened up their first leads of +2 (3–1, 3–5 and 4–6). The biggest difference came with the 4–7 score in the 14th minute. Although the opposing defence continued to cause them problems and they went four consecutive minutes without scoring, the Port de Sagunt side never dropped out of the match.

The home side tried attacking without a pivot, a tactical innovation that allowed them to level the contest in the 19th minute at 8–8. A penalty converted by Alberto Serradilla put the hosts ahead for the first time, making it 9–8 in the 21st minute. Immediately afterwards, Nacho Moyano called his first timeout, introducing two tactical changes: dropping the defensive line and attacking seven against six. Both goalkeepers improved on their performances from the opening 15 minutes. Sergio Mallo called a timeout with less than a minute remaining before half-time, with a positive outcome, and the teams went into the break at 12–11.

After the restart, there were several minutes of exchanged goals. The tactical battle on the benches continued, with the red-and-whites’ attack without a pivot facing the visitors’ suffocating defence. Imanol Nuin’s suspension allowed the Port de Sagunt side to take a +2 lead for the first time, at 16–14. Nacho Moyano stopped the match again in the 38th minute, once more introducing a seven-against-six attack. Juani Villarreal saved a crucial seven-metre throw in his first appearance around 40:20. The Valencians’ new maximum lead of +3 (19–16), driven by Matheus de Novais’s goals, forced the Pamplona side to use up their timeouts after the halfway point of the second half.

This time, the timeout did have an effect, reducing the deficit to one goal at 19–18, 20–19 and 21–20, before they finally levelled at 21–21, prompting another Sergio Mallo timeout with eight minutes remaining. With five minutes to go, both teams received a suspension. Two goals from Carlos Martín created some distance for the home side. Oleg Kisselev’s subsequent suspension left the visitors outnumbered during the final minute. Even so, they had one last chance to equalise virtually on the final whistle, but Dani Martínez prevented it with a superb save. The final score was 25–24.

With these two additional points, Fertiberia Balonmano Puerto Sagunto will remain second for another week, with 30 points in total, regardless of what happens in the rest of the round.

The next fixture will again be at the Port de Sagunt Sports Hall, next Saturday the 14th from 18:30, against Fundación Agustinos Alicante.

MATCH DETAILS:

Fertiberia Balonmano Puerto Sagunto (25): Juani Villarreal (-), Marcos Castañeda (-), Olivares (-), Paco Ruiz (-), Jakob Pelko (1), Dani Martínez (-), Pozzer (5), Arnau Fernández (1), Gonzalo (2), David García (-), Matheus de Novais (4), Serradilla (5), Capitán (-), Zungri (4), Carlos Martín (3), Teixidor (-).

Anaitasuna (24): Pablo Fernández (2), Iker Elola (1), Imanol Nuin (1), Ander Martín (-), Andoni Beraza (-), Mikel Redondo (-), Teo Marchesino (1), Alin Cozmaciuc (-), Unai Elizondo (2), Xabier Istúriz (3), Oleg Kisselev (1), Julen Elustondo (3), Marco Moreno (2), Iker Aguilera (-), Ibai Etxarte (5), José Paulo Silva (3).

Officials: José Alberto Romero Cruz and Enrique Javier Romero Cruz.

Suspensions: Juani Villarreal, Pablo Fernández, Imanol Nuin, Oleg Kisselev and Julen Elustondo received two-minute suspensions, while Fernando Calero and Jesús María Gastón received yellow cards.

Scoring intervals: 1–2, 3–5, 5–7, 7–8, 10–9, 12–11 (half-time); 14–14, 16–15, 18–16, 20–19, 22–21 and 25–24 (full-time).

Attendance: Match from the 19th round of the Men’s Silver Honour Division, played at the Port de Sagunt Sports Hall in front of approximately 1,400 spectators.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.