Outplayed from start to finish in the derby

Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto lost 18–22 on the Day of the Valencian Community in the derby against Horneo EÓN Alicante, played at the Port de Sagunt Sports Hall from 19:00, corresponding to the fifth round of the NEXUS ENERGÍA ASOBAL League.

The match began with two turnovers, one for each team, in their first positional attacks. Borragán scored the opening goal after two minutes. James Lewis Parker, twice, Reinante and Montoya joined Alicante’s scoring effort in the opening minutes and forced Sergio Mallo to call his first time-out (0–5, 5th min).

The pause had no effect, as a few minutes later the visitors secured a new six-goal lead (0–6). The home side’s first goal did not come until the ninth minute, scored by Olivares, who had just come onto the court. Adrián Sánchez had a seven-metre throw to put his side seven goals ahead, but Villarreal came off the bench to save it.

Dani Martínez’s saves in goal and Arnau Fernández’s contribution in attack, having converted the first three seven-metre throws he was awarded, allowed the home side to reduce the deficit slightly (4–8, 20th min). The match’s first suspension did not come until the 25th minute, when Dimitrievski was sent off for two minutes.

Thanks to their numerical advantage, the home side continued to close the gap and entered the contest for points at 6–9. Guitart came on in goal for his side and prevented Arnau Fernández from converting his fourth consecutive penalty. Montoya came into the centre of his side’s defence after Roi Sánchez’s time-out. The half-time score was 6–10.

The Valencian side returned after the restart with a tactical change in attack, playing seven against six with Guille Soler and Llorens as the double pivot. The variation lasted only one positional attack. As at the start of the first half, Sergio Mallo was forced to stop the match because of an exchange of goals that did not favour his players (8–14, 36th min).

Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto were unable to take advantage of Dimitrievski’s second suspension in the 38th minute, as Horneo EÓN Alicante managed a 1–2 run while shorthanded. Guitart’s saves and Reinante’s goals led their side to new seven-goal (9–16) and eight-goal (9–17) leads.

Two consecutive goals by Capitán into an empty net gave his teammates signs of a possible comeback, but four consecutive minutes with one player fewer, due to the suspensions of Gabriel Navarro and Guille Soler in the 45th and 47th minutes, made the attempt much more difficult with ten minutes remaining (14–20, 50th min).

The pattern of the match continued a minute later with another suspension, this time for Pelko. The match was effectively decided with five minutes remaining, with the score at 16–21. In this context, a controversial time-out and a red card for Llorens left the final score at 18–22.

Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto’s next fixture will once again be at home, as they welcome Viveros Herol Balonmano Nava next Saturday at 18:30 at the Port de Sagunt Sports Hall, in the sixth round of the competition.

MATCH REPORT:

18 – Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto (6+12): Dani Martínez (gk), Pelko (2, 1 pen.), Gabriel Navarro (2), Romanillos, Serradilla (1), Capitán (3) and Martín de Bolaños (3) —starting seven—; Olivares (2), Villarreal (reserve gk), Arnau Fernández (4, 3 pen.), Llorens, Gonzalo Pérez, Guille Soler, Matheus de Novais, Héctor Cantón and Zungri (1).

22 – Horneo EÓN Alicante (10+12): Guitart (gk), Adrián Sánchez (2, 1 pen.), Borragán (2, 1 pen.), Augusto Moreno, Dimitrievski (1), James Lewis Parker (4) and Sempere (1) —starting seven—; Montoya (4), Reinante (6, 2 pen.), Pepe Oliver, Doménech (reserve gk), Lautaro Robledo (1), Escobedo (1), Hamza Walid, Aarón Gutiérrez and Vasconcelos.

Referees: Jordi Ausás Busquets and Miquel Florenza Virgili (Catalan committee). The home players Llorens, Gabriel Navarro, Guille Soler and Pelko, and the visitors Augusto Moreno, Dimitrievski (2), Borragán and Pepe Oliver were suspended. Llorens was disqualified.

Score at five-minute intervals: 0–5, 1–6, 2–7, 3–8, 5–9, 6–10 (half-time); 7–12, 9–15, 12–18, 13–19, 16–21 and 18–22 (full-time).

Match details: Match from the fifth round of the NEXUS ENERGÍA ASOBAL League, played at the Port de Sagunt Sports Hall in front of approximately 2,000 spectators.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.