EÓN Handball Alicante secured a meaningful home victory over Zamora with a 30-28 result on the sixth round of the Division of Honor B playoff to stay in the fight for salvation. The win moves the team a step closer to its objective in the national silver category.
The Alicante clash with Zamora remained tightly contested from start to finish. Two opening runs kept the score close at 13-15 at halftime, as Magí Serra’s squad found a way to respond in the second half and flip the momentum in their favor, clinching the two points. David Jiménez delivered a standout exhibit with 11 goals, driving the offense with force and precision.
Early on Zamora struck first, then neither side established a clear upper hand as the minutes ticked by. The game unfolded with rapid exchanges and well-timed counterattacks, aided by two solid, well-positioned defenders that complicated the attacking plans on both sides.
“It’s a great pleasure to see how EON is growing”
As the local team pressed toward the goal, the finishing blows did not immediately arrive. Serra’s players continued to push to maintain supremacy on the scoreboard, yet the halftime tally read 13-15 in Zamora’s favor.
An unstoppable EON
EON carried the momentum into the second half and produced a burst of scoring that changed the tone of the game. In a span of two minutes, the scoreboard leaped to 16, signaling a shift in control. By the 40th minute, the team had taken a small lead and demonstrated greater efficiency in both discipline and finish.
Scoring surged from Sergio Martínez, David Jiménez, and Nacho at seven meters, while Adrian Torres anchored the defense and goalkeeper duties, improving significantly as the period progressed. The team extended its margin to five with four minutes remaining, building a cushion that would allow them to manage the closing stages more calmly.
With the advantage extended, Zamora fought to close the gap, but EÓN held firm and maintained the distance as the match drew to a close, reinforcing the sense of persistence that has characterized their campaign.
In the final moments, Zamora managed to narrow the gap to 30-28. EÓN Alicante, in possession as time expired, was unable to convert the last play due to a controversial finish where the whistle’s timing left uncertainty about whether the ball remained in play. The two points stayed home, marking a crucial result for the hosts.
The encounter carried significant weight since Zamora had been the only team to defeat EON in this playoff phase and had trailed Alicante in the standings, placing both sides near the relegation threshold. The victory created a three-point cushion for EON, strengthening their position in the table.
Following this round, EON sits fifth with 18 points, while Alcobendas remains fourth in the playoff standings. Antequera leads with 21, followed by Eivissa and Unión Financiera with 20. Zamora, on 15, sits just outside the safety zone, with Alarcos (13), Zarautz (9), Boadilla (4), and Sant Quirze (2) occupying the other relegation spots.
The next day, EÓN Alicante is set to host Zarautz in a home match scheduled for May 7 at 13:00 at the Ariztbalde Udal Kiroldegia.
match paper
EÓN Alicante: Torres, David Jiménez (11), Mancebo, Doldán, Sergio Martínez (2), Mirallave (3), Serrano, Feuchtmann (5), Linares (3), Padilla, Quiles, González, Kouni (1), Miguel Ángel Martínez (1), Moll (3) and Mosquera (1).
Zamora: Doval, Carneiro (3), Torres, Pérez, Ruiz, Cubillas (3), Elola (6), Maide, García (1), Illesca (1), Horcajada, González, Silva (8), Etayo (4), Mach and Bellia (2).
Points every 5 minutes: 3-2, 5-5, 9-8, 11-11, 13-14, 13-15 (rest), 19-18, 21-19, 23-22, 26-23, 29-25 and 30-28.