Matecosa UE Sant Julià won the 2010 Super Cup yesterday against Pidasa FC Santa Coloma in a marathon match that did not produce a winner until the end of overtime (2-3).

Sant Julia’s Ferando Gonçalves – who entered the pitch in the 5th minute of overtime as a substitute for Salvat – was the author of the goal that awarded Julio Ferreros’ men their first title of the season, which makes them now champions of three Andorran Super Cups.

The day started with the 2009-10 awards ceremony in Aixovall. Ricard Fernández received the award for best goalkeeper, Sant Julià’s Gabi Riera received the award for the most goals, and Pidasa FC Santa Coloma’s captain, Manolo Jiménez, received the trophy that accredits Santa Coloma as the current Domestic Competition champions.

The 2010 Super Cup started off with several errors by both Sant Julià and Santa Coloma and a very slow game pace. After 20 long minutes, Pidasa started to play more seriously, with Jiménez leading and Alejandro and Renato from the sides. Sant Julià’s presence in Ricky’s goal area occurred through direct play. In the 21st minute, Sant Julià’s Riera found himself alone in front of Ricky after taking advantage of a shot by Varela, from the midfield, and shot into Santa Coloma’s net, but the goalkeeper blocked the ball and sent it outside.

The remaining part of the first half was characterized by the expulsion of Santa Coloma’s Lucho, who received his second yellow card in the 32nd minute for leaving the pitch to drink water without asking for permission from the referees. Despite the fact that Santa Coloma were left with only 10 men, it was Xavi Roura’s men who showed initiative and control over the game. Manolo Jiménez had the chance to score in the 36th minute with a foul shot that struck the crossbar of Friday’s goal area.

After the break, Pidasa shuffled their players and Beto substituted Danilo in order to liven up the sides, with the Argentinean in possession of the ball and using the upper part of his body when the ball was above his waist. His tactics resulted in the match’s first goal in the 52nd minute, with a play that Manolo initiated with Beto, who gained control of the ball and started the play on Romero’s side. The ex-player from Sant Julià fought with the ball until the far line with Walter and, after taking control, he passed it to Chancha who scored the 1-0 with a head shot.  

Apart from a shot by Sebas Gómez that Ricky sent to the corner, Juli Ferreros’ men knew that they were losing the fight. In the 80th minute, however, a play by Gómez himself the left side finished with a fight next to the far line with Samïr. The Santa Coloma player grabbed the international player from Sant Julia’s shirt and the referee called a maximum penalty.  Salvat was responsible for the foul shot and he tricked Ricard, with a goal that broke the tie and established the team’s victory in the overtime. During the first half of overtime, Riera lost a solid chance to score and Santa Coloma’s Gilbert used a scissor kick that sent the ball too high, which Monolo later sent to the corner. In the 95th minute, the one who substituted Salvat was the person who would later become the hero of the afternoon and final part of the match, Fernando Gonçalves.

The second half of the overtime was frantic. First Pinto established the 1-2 score, taking advantage of one of Sant Julià’s only long passes, in this case by Jacques, which Pinto sent to Ricky from the right. In the 117th minute Beto evened the score with a play in which he used his body inside the goal area, and Ruiz was forced to foul. Manolo established the 2-2 score from the eleven meters.

Everyone was anticipating penalites. But with 3 minutes left on the clock, there was a timeout because the goalkeeper, Friday, had to be treated for dizziness. Ferreros had already changed players three times and the goalkeeper could not continue, so defence player Varela had to put his gloves on. The match cooled down on Santa Coloma’s part so much that Sant Julià used a fast play, initiated by Riera from the left, who watched as Gonçalves approached and passed him the ball, who hurled a cross shot which made Ricard’s stretch to block it useless. Without any more time on the clock, Sant Julià’s euphoria was evident with the definitive 3-2 and the Super Cup in their pocket.