UE Costa Brava Llagostera was the opponent in the eighth game of the season in the Primera RFEF Footters, played in Palamós. Xavi Calm’s team, keen to come away with three points after the draw at home against Linares Deportivo last week. Calm wasn’t able to recall any of his injured players; Jesús Álvaro, Josep Jaume, Hugo, Cordero or Alfonso. He was also without Dioni who was serving the first of a two-match ban. The match day squad was finished by Javi Pou from the Santanyí youth team, and also youth players from DH Florit, Mario and Rigo (the latter two having just played against La Damm in Barcelona). Xavi Calm chose the same starting 11 as last week, except of Manel coming in for the suspended Dioni. René in goal, a back four of Luca Ferrone, Ignasi, Olaortua and Delgado. Damian and Armando in midfield, flanked by Canario and José Fran and Manel joining Vinicius up front.
The first half was disappointing. ATB had plenty of possession but few chances. Manel was lively; holding the ball up, winning it back and was central to many of the best changes of the game, while José Fran tried to beat his man with his explosivity from the wing. Manuel tried his luck in the 7th minute, but his shot was tame and straight into the keeper Marcos Pérez’s hands. ATB tried to supply crosses to the front two but with little success, rarely providing an effort on goal. Ignasi did get a good volley away after a ball from Armando on the wing but saw it deflected away. In the 30th minute Galindo fired wide for the locals after getting into a good position on the edge of the box. It seemed like nothing was going to happen in the first half, but in the 44th minute veteran player Xumetra took advantage of a counterattack to cut in from the wing and bend an unstoppable left footed shot beyond René. An unstoppable effort. Between the celebration and the teams lining up again there was no time left in the half and the referee blew. A painful blow for ATB, but the team would step it up in the second half.
After the restart, the team pushed to get back into the game. They got the equaliser in the 56th minute from a set piece straight form the training ground; Ignasi putting the ball in and Delgado bursting forward to fire in at the near post for his first goal in a Baleares shirt. The team wanted more. Iñaki had to go off after trying to shake off an injury following a collision, being replaced by Pedor Orfila. Isi also came on for José Fran in the 74th minute. Manel had a good chance one on one with the keeper which Marcos saved well. In the 76th minute the goal came with the strike of the match; a Maradona-esk run from Armando before slotting home one on one to put the score at 2-1. Álex Robles came on for an exhausted Damián, who had spent the week taking it easy after a knock, to reinforce midfield with Armando and Canario. The team defended tooth and nail, to hold on for the win.
Line Ups:
UE Costa Brava Llagostera: 1. Marcos (c), 11. Guiu, 4. Monreal, 3. Perone (77′ 23. Juventay), 22. Manel Royo (80′ 9. Haro), 8. Galindo, 16. Romero (77′ 10. Gil), 21. Manchón, 19. Álvaro, 15. Moussa jr (69′ 30. Cala) y 17. Xumetra
Atlético Baleares: 13. René, 12. Luca Ferrone, 20. Ignasi, 4. Olaortua, 5. Delgado, 21. Petcoff, 6. Armando, 10. Canario (c), 7. José Fran, 9. Vinicius y 11. Manel.
Referee:
Booked for the home team: Manchón
Booked for the away team: Iñaki and Armando
Campo de Palamós: 433 Spectators
Post Match Comments:
Xavi Calm: “A Good performance, becuase after several draws to come to this ground and win… we wanted to win so motivation wise those points are important. We conceded the goal on the break, but we reacted well in the second half and competed well. I’m happy for the fans. A game where both teams were respectful of each other, and the difference was Armando’s fantastic goal. We had to defend and tip the balance in our favour. We can’t look at Villareal, we must look at what we are doing and keep taking as many points as possible every week. I was a difficult week because of the injuries but everyone who was available played well, these wins during weeks where you have a compromised line-up are especially sweet.”
Manel Martínez: “It was hard, against a team that made us work for the win. They scored a great goal against us but the team found a way to turn the score around. I will carry on working and waiting for my chance and give my best. We are an ambitious team that wants to go far. I had family in the stands, so I am very happy.”
Carlos Delgado: “We knew what they would be like, we wanted to play out wide and Xumetra scored a great goal on the counter right at the end of the first half. We came out with a clear idea of what to do and got a quick equaliser, then Armando’s fantastic goal and then we needed to be solid defensively. I’m happy for the team because if we carry on like this Villarreal won’t get too far ahead.”
