The FC Lusitana la Posa benefited from yesterday's goalless draw in the Classic between Pidasa FC Santa Coloma and Sant Julia Matecosa EU. Vicenç Marquès’ players thrashed FC Encamp (5-0) in Alàs, and they are now tied at 13 points with the reigning league champions.

The Lauredians are in third place with 11 points and Escale is fourth after leading the day with a score of 10-0 against FC Casa Benfica. Luis Miguel Aloy’s boys are looking positive, and they are now 4 points behind the leader, Pidasa. Furthermore, Constr. Modernes Inter Club Escaldes scored the first point of the current season by tying 2-2 against Gestions JR CE Principat.

A rugged and goalless Classic

The fifth day of the First Division took off yesterday in Aixovall with the much anticipated Classic match. Players from Santa Coloma and Sant Julià staged a clash with the usual ingredients: intensity, physical play, respect and unfortunately few chances to score a goal because of the constant time-outs and the resulting slow pace. On the other hand, the rugged nature of the match meant that physical therapists from both sides were extremely busy as they attended to the players wounded in the fight for the ball.

On the Lauredian side, striker Gabi Riera was forced off the pitch at the end of the first half having suffered a bone injury to his left foot. Minutes (43 ') later came the expulsion of the Lauredian, Edu Peppe, who saw the second yellow card in a run-in with defender Sonejee from Santa Coloma. Both ended up lying flat on the pitch as a result of their accident, and Peppe was ousted as he had touched the ball in the final moments of play. The Uruguayan and captain of Sant Julia left the pitch limping.

In another dispute, in the second half (63 ') Roura, Manolo, and Lauredian striker, Sebas Gomez, were stunned when they smashed their foreheads together. Sebas was unable to continue and after 12 minutes, Manolo was replaced and had to wear a patch on his right eyebrow. Later at the hospital he received seven stitches. Matamala, Fontan, Gonçalves and Carballo (he left lame) and Renato, Julio Sanchez, and Samir Beto (he split his lip open) were also involved in other clashes that meant more lost match time.

Balls hit the crossbar and there were few other opportunities to score

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The match was characterized by a blatant lack of opportunities to score. Although Santa Coloma was the first to reach Friday’s goal area, Beto’s cross shot was blocked by a well-placed goalkeeper in the 7th minute. On the other side, Varela is who made the goalkeeper Ricky blunder, sending a direct shot to the corner, which snuck past the goal post.  In the 15th minute, defender Ribo salvaged Ricky’s poor start when he shot directly into an empty goal area. Samir´s front shot bounced in front of Friday and he was unable to trap it, sending it to the corner. In the 33rd minute, Samir attempted to score from the right side but this time Friday blocked his shot.

Even with one less man, the Lauredians had their first chance in the second half when Gonçalves’ shot went directly to the crossbar (51 '). Later, Santa Coloma’s attempt failed when Manolo’s corner shot hit the crossbar and Chancha responded with a headshot, which sent the ball to the crossbar again. Sonejee, bouncing the ball off the second post, could not finish the job. Julio Ferreros’ players finished conservatively and only Varela sent a dangerous shot (86’), which Ricky and the crossbar dismissed. In the end, Friday’s fist thwarted Beto´s attempted headshot from sending the ball into an unprotected net. The scoreboard closed at zero in a Classic where Santa Coloma did not take advantage of their first chance in the League.

Photo: Defender Ruiz and ex-Lauredian Alejandro Romero, fight for the ball while Juli watches, yesterday in Aixovall.