Bathco BM Torrelavega edged to a hard-fought draw with TM Benidorm, finishing 33-33 in a tightly contested clash that swung on a single late misstep. A costly mistake in the final moments denied Latorre’s squad a possible victory, leaving both sides to share the points in a match that delivered drama from start to finish.
The Cantabrian side opened with purpose, seizing early momentum and claiming the first set 3-1. Alicante’s team responded with urgency, leveling the score at 5-5 after ten minutes and signaling that the balance would remain delicate throughout the night. The game tightened further as the action shifted from one end to the other, with both teams trading blows and defending with discipline.
In the closing minutes of the first half, Villoria and Oswaldo combined to push Bathco ahead, and a strong save from Mijuskovic near the posts helped preserve a slender lead as Benidorm called for a time-out. When play resumed, Torrelavega carried a two-goal cushion into the break, with a score of 17-15 in their favor. The restart saw Benidorm come out with renewed vigor, drawing level at 18-18 and then nudging ahead briefly at 18-20 as they exploited some gaps in the Cantabrian defense.
The pendulum swung back as Bathco exploited an Iván Rodríguez exclusion to reclaim parity at 20-20. From there, the duel settled into a seesaw pattern, with neither side granting the other an easy advantage and both sides matching each score. Ten minutes remained and the scoreboard showed a fresh equilibrium, 25-25, before Benidorm managed to pull ahead again to 25-27.
Equalization arrived quickly for the home side, and as the clock wore down, the intensity ratcheted up. A late three-goal burst by the visitors appeared to tilt the frame, but balance was restored by Bathco as the gap narrowed to a two-goal difference with fewer than five minutes on the clock — Benidorm up 28-31.
With the audience roaring and the tension palpable, coach Álex Mozas called a timeout to regroup his players. The stoppage proved pivotal: Bathco capitalized on Ramiro Martínez’s momentary suspension and seized momentum in the dying seconds. A critical miscue for the visitors opened the door, and Isi Martínez converted a field goal to level the score at 33-33 in the final moments, sealing the draw and leaving the stands buzzing with disbelief and excitement.
Data sheet:
The Bathco BM Torrelavega roster (17+16) featured Mijuskovic in goal, with a supporting cast including Abraham González, Alonso Moreno, Sergio Crespo, Jorge Prieto, Villoria, Dani Ramos, Lombilla, Isi Martínez, Cangiani, Casanova, Oswaldo, Pedro Berrio, Popovic, Czaplinski, and Colunga, contributing to the hard-fought performance that defined the night.
TM Benidorm (15+18) fielded Roberto Rodríguez and Samuel Ibáñez as starters, with a squad that also included Vujovic, Barceló, Bernatotis, Vainstein, Iker Serrano, Oliver, Lignieres, Sempere, Ramiro Martínez, Iván Rodríguez, Rubén Santos, Edu Calle, Nikcevic, and Sojic. The game showcased a blend of quick counters, robust defense, and efficient goalkeeping as both teams pressed for supremacy.
Score progression reflected the tight nature of the contest: 3-1, 5-5, 9-9, 12-11, 13-13, 17-15 at halftime, 18-18, 19-20, 23-22, 23-25, 24-26, and finally 33-33 at the final whistle. The match officials were José Carlos Friera and Andrés Rosendo. Suspensions and cards affected both squads—Isi Martínez and Dani Ramos from Bathco received two-minute suspensions, along with Oliver, Ramiro Martínez, and Iván Rodríguez from Benidorm. Bathco players Lombilla and Álex Mozas received yellow cards, while Oliver and Fernando Latorre from Benidorm also drew cautions. The intensity of the clash reflected the high stakes of the competition and the season-long battle between two ambitious outfits.
The fixture took place on the twentieth day of the Plenitude ASOBAL League and drew a crowd of roughly 2,000 spectators to the Vicente Trueba Pavilion, where the atmosphere amplified the drama of every defensive stand and fast-break finish. This result underscored the volatility and unpredictability of the league component and highlighted the resilience of Bathco BM Torrelavega, who refused to fold in the closing minutes.
[Source: Asobal League match report and official statistics.]