Rodrigo Salinas scored in the final seconds to secure a 36-37 victory for Cajasol Sevilla BM Proin against REBI Cuenca at El Sargal, marking the club’s first win in the Liga Nexus Energía Asobal. The dramatic finish capped a high-scoring encounter where Chema Márquez led the Andalusian side with 13 goals, while Salinas delivered the decisive tallies in the closing minute to break a 36-36 deadlock.
A Historic Breakthrough in Cuenca
The triumph on the road delivered a milestone for Seville’s handball representation in Spain’s top flight. Antonio García’s squad built an early advantage during the first half, pushing their lead to as many as five goals before the break. However, the hosts from Cuenca mounted a determined comeback in the second period, neutralizing the deficit and threatening to snatch the points in the game’s dying moments.
The match began with a brisk exchange of goals. Rolando Uríos and Chema Márquez traded early scores to keep the visitors moving forward. By the eighth minute, Márquez established a 4-5 lead. As the first half progressed, Cajasol began to stretch their margin. Tarcisio Freitas converted a rolling shot to make it 7-11, prompting a Cuenca timeout. Raúl Morales followed with another goal to extend the lead to 7-12, forcing Antonio García to manage a brief surge from the hosts before reaching halftime with a 16-19 advantage, anchored by six goals from Márquez.
Second-Half Surge and Late Drama
REBI Cuenca opened the second half with a forceful 5-1 run, leveling the score at 20-20. Cajasol repeatedly leaned on Márquez to weather the pressure. Márquez responded to make it 21-23, and Gerard Román added a fast-break goal to push the lead to 21-24.
As penalties and exclusions piled up, Cuenca capitalized on numerical advantages to claw back. Consecutive mistakes by Cajasol while playing a man down allowed the hosts to tie the match at 29-29. The lead swung back and forth in the final stages. Cuenca edged ahead 32-31, but Márquez leveled the score at 32-32 as the contest entered its final five minutes.
With the score knotted at 33-33, Pau López put Cajasol ahead again, only for Cuenca to respond and claim a 35-34 edge. Márquez tied it once more at 35-35. Inside the final minute, Salinas finished a fast break to put the visitors up 36-35. Cuenca answered with just five seconds remaining to make it 36-36, setting the stage for the final possession where Salinas found the back of the net right before the final buzzer.
Match Statistics and Key Performers
- Final Score: REBI Cuenca 36, Cajasol Sevilla BM Proin 37
- Top Scorer: Chema Márquez (13 goals for Cajasol)
- Decisive Plays: Rodrigo Salinas (two late goals, including the game-winner on the buzzer)
- Venue: El Sargal
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