A draw that could be worth its weight in gold
Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto claim a point on the buzzer in a 28-28 Valencian derby draw away to Balonmano Servigroup Benidorm on the penultimate División de Honor Plata matchday.
2026-05-04
Nicolás Zungri opened from long range, but the hosts turned 0-1 into 3-1 through two Daniil Zhukov pivot goals. Fertiberia went over five minutes without scoring until Paco Ruiz converted from seven metres. A 3-0 run led by Ramiro Martínez and Hugo Vila then gave Benidorm leads of three (5-2) and four goals (6-2).
Better defending and transitions helped the visitors respond with a 0-3 run to make it 6-5 after ten minutes. Following an exchange of goals, parity returned at 11-11 in the 23rd minute and Alejandro Cutanda called timeout. Juan Carlos Sempere directed the Alicante side to a 15-13 half-time lead.
Jakob Pelko’s early second-half suspension allowed Benidorm to regain a four-goal lead at 19-15 through Samuel Ibáñez’s empty-net goal. The Port side again moved within one at 19-18, prompting another Cutanda timeout in the 40th minute.
The hosts established further small leads but could not consolidate them, and Uros Ostojic’s 48th-minute disqualification made matters harder. Juani Villarreal’s saves and Arnau Fernández’s eight goals kept Fertiberia alive until David García scored from the pivot with ten seconds left to make it 28-28.
The point puts Fertiberia second outright with 42 points after UBU San Pablo Burgos 2031 lost 27-26 to Barça Atlètic and Fundación Agustinos Alicante fell 28-27 to BM Contazara Zaragoza.
The draw ends their direct-promotion chances, which Cajasol Sevilla BM Proin secured by beating Club Balonmano Alcobendas 29-21.
The red-and-whites control their own destiny when they host Attica 21 Hotels OAR Coruña at 7.00 pm on Saturday 2 on the final matchday. A point will secure promotion-tournament hosting rights thanks to their favourable head-to-head record against UBU San Pablo Burgos 2031.
MATCH DETAILS:
Balonmano Servigroup Benidorm (28): Samuel Ibáñez (1), Uros Ostojic (2), Pablo Vainstein (1), Marc López (-), Pol Roy (5), Daniil Zhukov (3), David Mach (-), Ferrán Prieto (-), Leo Alonso (-), Juan Carlos Sempere (3), Ramiro Martínez (7), Hugo Vila (3), Eric Gavilán (-), Diego Pérez (3), Nicolás Calvo (-), Bryan Paz (-).
Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto (28): Juani Villarreal (-), Olivares (2), Paco Ruiz (4), Jakob Pelko (-), Dani Martínez (-), Pozzer (-), Arnau Fernández (8), Julen Urruzola (2), Gonzalo (-), David García (1), Matheus de Novais (4), Serradilla (-), Capitán (-), Zungri (4), Carlos Martín (1), Teixidor (2).
Officials: Jorge López González and José Luis Hernández Lara.
Suspensions: Pablo Vainstein, Leo Alonso (2), Ramiro Martínez, Jakob Pelko, Arnau Fernández and David García (two minutes); Uros Ostojic (red card).
Scores: 3-1, 6-4, 9-7, 10-9, 12-11, 15-13 (half-time); 17-15, 19-17, 21-19, 22-22, 24-25 and 28-28 (full-time).
Event: Men’s División de Honor Plata matchday 29 at the Palau d’Esports l’Illa de Benidorm.
Translation produced using artificial intelligence.