The 6th day of the disputed First Division was overcast and rainy for a standoff between two teams with high hopes. In the end, Escale UE Santa Coloma beat FC Lusitans La Posa by a small margin.

Pidasa FC Santa Coloma ensured in Alàs their second win of the season with a convincing 12-1 against a weak FC Casa Benfica who now find themselves at the bottom of the list. Xavi Roura’s players, unbeaten so far, returned to lead the league (16 points) followed closely by EU Matecosa Sant Julià (14 points), who beat CE Principat (4-1). On the other hand, Inter d’Escaldes obtained their first victory of the year to FC Encamp (1-2) in the match that closed the day.

 
Goalkeeper’s error provides the match's only goal (1-0)

Escale and Lusitans jumped onto the pitch ready to score three points in a direct clash between two clubs who want to take the two leading positions of the First Division. Lluís Miquel Aloy’s boys, with very good tactical awareness and order on the field, proposed a combined match that contrasted with the direct strategy offered by the Lusitans. This verticality meant that Vicenç Marquès’ men had their first chance to score with Baixinho and Luis Migue Dos Reis looking for Pedro’s assistance and Juan Raya from the centre spot. The same Luis from the halfway line assisted Pedro in the 20th minute, who after taking advantage of the poor ball control of Colomenc defender Rui Filipe, faced Rivas and hurled a cross shot, which the Colomenc goalkeeper impressively attempted to block.

Maciel was unsuccessful in his attempt to break the right side thanks to a particularly insurmountable Jordi Rubio and his strong defence. Gabi Meza tried a change of game in the 30th minute from the left to the right looking again for the arrival of Pedro but the striker was not completely decided despite facing Rivas again. Escale´s defence of 4 moved the ball along with their pivots who worked hard yesterday to give an opportunity to Bernat. Escale´s goal came at the end of the first half. Aloy ran with the ball looking to take advantage of Bernat’s speed and ended up in the right lane. It was when everything depended on the goalkeeper Andrés to save the team from peril that the goalkeeper’s error occurred, under the pressure of a constantly fighting Bernat who ended up thwarting his plans with a cross shot into an empty net. The goal bewildered the Lusitans before the break.

 After halftime, Lusitans found the match more difficult as Escale continued with the same intensity and concentration and found more chances to combine plays. In the 50th minute, Fortes assisted Rodrigo who stayed in the left lane all the way to the far line, but there was not anyone to receive his backwards pass. Baixinho responded (58’) even though he shot high from the front.

At this time the striker from Santa Coloma, Boris, held several opportunities in his hands to extend their lead. First with a headshot that Gerard Aloy sent high and in the corner and afterwards with a clearer chance to take the lead.  It was in the 63rd minute that Aloy started a counter attack with a pass to Bernat who with a second assist to Boris, tried a chip shot against Andrés, which he blocked and sent out of bounds. Boris’ misfortune was clear when during the last ten minutes he had two more opportunities but he missed the crossbar by a fraction.

One was a shot from inside the goal area and later a cross shot with Aloy´s assist from the right side. When approaching the end, and tensions caused by the ticking clock and the frequent violent clashes between players growing were high, Vicenç Marques’ players had their last opportunity to score a goal. Luis’ 35 meter free shot of 35 snuck past the squad, but Rivas was able to block it and send it to the corner.

 Escale deserved their three points since they ended up drowning the Lusitans, who saw the defeat as a small step backwards since “they did not count on losing this match”, according to the Lusitans’ coach at the end of the match.

 Photo: Pere Fortes wins the first clash against Lusitan Leo Maciel, in a standoff yesterday in Aixovall.