A superb team second half takes us through to the next round

Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto progress to the next stage of the LII Copa de S. M. el Rey organised by the Royal Spanish Handball Federation after producing a superb second half (10–16), which enabled them to secure a 20–24 victory away to Confía Base Oviedo at the Polideportivo de Vallobín.

The main change to the red-and-white team’s starting seven was the inclusion of Dani Langa, a player from the Primera Nacional reserve team, at centre-back. Hélio Pina scored the opening goal after a feint against Matheus de Novais. The latter had come up against Gamallo in his team-mates’ previous positional attack, as had Gabriel Navarro with his second attempt and Olba from the penalty spot.

Raúl Blanco also missed his first opportunity from seven metres, as Villarreal saved his shot. Just before the five-minute mark, Gabriel Navarro opened the scoring for his side to make it 1–1. Joaquín Pérez, who took over from Raúl Blanco, converted his attempt and put the Oviedo side back in front (2–1, min. 6). Gonzalo Pulgar was the first and only player excluded from the match in the eighth minute.

With the numerical advantage, Romanillos began to make his presence felt in the centre of the opposing defence, scoring a goal and winning a penalty, which Olba again failed to convert for the second time. The score remained level at 2–2 after ten minutes of play. Joaquín Pérez, through a counter-attack, and Jorge Lema, with a supported shot, gave the home side a new advantage (4–2, min. 13).

Imprecision in attack and defensive passivity forced Sergio Mallo to call his first time-out before the halfway point of the first half, with the score at 5–2. The break had no effect and, following an immediate turnover and a goal from Franceschetti a minute later, the home side’s advantage continued to grow until it reached four goals (6–2). Macri Pérez, Guille Soler and Marcos Castañeda came on in the 40x20.

Villarreal continued to save shots in goal and the 6–4 scoreline remained on the scoreboard for a long spell of the first half, until Guille Soler ended the scoring drought and prompted Pablo Galech to call a time-out (6–5, min. 22). On this occasion, the break did have an effect and the home side restored a three-goal advantage (8–5) in the 25th minute. The partnership of Héctor Cantón and Rodrigo Alba, the latter scoring twice, allowed the visitors to reduce the deficit slightly before half-time, when the score was 10–8.

Rodrigo Alba became the visitors’ main attacking threat thanks to his penetrations and long-range shooting. After the interval, Olba joined the attack with two goals from the left wing. The match became even tighter in the 35th minute, with the score at 13–12. Twenty-seven minutes later, the scores were level again thanks to Arnau Fernández’s converted seven-metre throw (13–13, min. 37).

Several poor static attacks by Confía Base Oviedo allowed the Valencians to regain the initiative, although they squandered their first opportunities. This time, a double save by Villarreal and a goal from Gabriel Navarro put the visitors ahead, making it 13–14 in the 39th minute. The fact that his players remained stuck on thirteen goals forced Pablo Galech to stop the match again (13–15, min. 41).

The time-out bore no fruit. An attacking foul won by Olba, Arnau Fernández’s effectiveness from seven metres and Gabriel Navarro’s shot from the nine-metre line allowed the Valencians to pull clear, making it 13–17 with seventeen minutes remaining. Franceschetti ended the Principality of Asturias side’s poor attacking run.

The visiting defence raised its performance compared with what had been seen in the first thirty minutes. Pablo Galech opted to stop the match for the final time with less than thirteen minutes remaining and the score at 14–19. The tactical change, with individual marking on Rodrigo Alba and Arnau Fernández, prompted Sergio Mallo to call a time-out to prepare the attacking response. The red-and-white coach then opted for four back-court players and a seven-against-six system without a goalkeeper.

Bauer, who came off the bench, tried to keep the home side alive, but Villarreal made sure of preventing it at the other end. Despite one final comeback attempt, Olba and Gonzalo Pérez, from the wings, put the finishing touch to the match (19–24, min. 57). The final score was narrowed slightly in the last minute by a goal from youth player Raúl Sánchez, who made it 20–24.

Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto’s next fixture will be in the Liga NEXUS ENERGÍA ASOBAL, when they visit Cajasol Sevilla BM Proin at the Centro Deportivo Amate on Sunday from 12:00, in the eighth round of the competition.

MATCH DETAILS:

20 – Confía Base Oviedo (10+10): Gamallo (gk), Raúl Blanco, Hélio Pina (5), Colías, Gonzalo Pulgar, Mikel Galán (2) and Joaquín Pérez (3, 1p.) —starting seven—; Pablo González (1), David Pulgar (1), Franceschetti (2), Bauer (reserve gk), Javi Sánz (1, 1p.), Bermúdez (1), Raúl Sánchez (2, 1p.), Pereira and Lema (2).

24 – Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto (8+16): Villarreal (gk), Pelko, Gabriel Navarro (4), Romanillos (3), Dani Langa, Matheus de Novais (2) and Olba (6, 2p.) —starting seven—; Marcos Castañeda, Rodrigo Alba (2), Arnau Fernández (2, 2p.), Gonzalo Pérez (1), Guille Soler (3), Macri Pérez, Héctor Cantón (1) and Dani Martínez (reserve gk).

Officials: Pablo San Emeterio de la Fuente and Javier Ariño Saiz (Andalusian Committee). They excluded home player Gonzalo Pulgar.

Score at five-minute intervals: 1–1, 2–2, 5–2, 6–4, 7–5, 10–8 (half-time); 13–11, 13–14, 13–17, 16–21, 18–22 and 20–24 (full-time).

Attendance and notes: Match corresponding to the first-round tie of the LII Copa de S. M. el Rey, played at the Polideportivo de Vallobín in front of approximately 275 spectators. Before the opening whistle, a minute’s silence was observed for the victims of the railway accident in the province of Toledo.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.