Matecosa UE Sant Julià are the First Division’s new leaders thanks to FC Lusitans La Posa´s triumph (2-1), which ended Pidasa FC Santa Coloma’s undefeated position, having lost their last domestic competition match a year and a half ago.

 Yesterday’s seventh match of the First Division´s regular season left the four title candidates with minimal differences between their classification places. Matecosa leads with 17 points, Pidasa and Lusitans are in second place with 16 points and Escale is in third place with 15 points after beating Principat.

The Lauredians thrashed FC Encamp with an 8-0 victory. Marcelo Iguacel pulled his first “hat-trick” of the current season, Sebas pulled two, and along with Iguacel the two were their team’s powerhouses with 6 goals; Miguel Ruiz debuted as a striker at the beginning of the match and Peppe and Jacques assured a comfortable victory. Matecosa Sant Julià took eleven minutes to score. It was a beautiful goal from midfield center Ruiz who, despite Peppe’s short pass, launched the ball from the halfway line, sneaking past the other team’s defence and the left post and into the net, which was defended yesterday by Monteagudo.

 In the 15th minute, Sebas, after a play from the right side, handed the second goal to Marcelo. A minute later, Encamp’s Quintela tried his luck with a shot from the front but missed over the crossbar. Matecosa kept searching for a chance to reach the goal area. Peppe scored the third goal with a long shot which surprised Monti (20’) and before halftime another beautiful play between Gómez and Iguacel made Sebas send the ball to the post, but in the 41st minute, the international forward sent the ball again to the first post and Monolo scored the fourth goal with a head shot.

 After the break, Dalibon faulted Leo and Seba scored the fifth goal from eleven meters (74’). A minute later Sebas returned to perforate Encamp’s goal area again after a pass from Jacques. In the 83rd minute, Iguacel pulled his “hat-trick” with an acrobatic goal. Sebas centered high and Igual facing backwards kicked from the outside part of his foot and it snuck past Monti to score. On Encamp’s side, although Alex Izquierdo - transferred from Pidasa FC Santa Coloma - and the second goalkeeper, Dani Bazán, put their heart into their attack against an insurmountable Sant Julià. Carlos Jacques closed the scoreboard when he took advantage of a millimetrical pass from Pinto from the left and the newly signed player from Sant Julià scored with a dry cross shot (86’).

 Lusitans puts more excitement into the League

Yesterday ‘s match in Aixovall between Pidasa and Lusitans ended in Vicenç Marquès’ favour (2-1) and it broke Pidasa’s year and a half streak as an undefeated team in the domestic league competition. Pinto started the scoreboard ticking with the only clear opportunity for Lusitans to score during the first half (25’). Dos Reis kicked the ball into the right foul lane and Pinto took hold of the ball to confront Ricky.

 Santa Coloma’s response was swift and Xinos jumped higher than anyone at the second post and sent Juli Sánchez’ pass into the corner.

The second half was characterized by gridlock: Xinos’ controversial penalty over Cardoso in the 57th minute, the constant time-outs, protests, interventions by physical therapists, the expulsion of Ribolleda when he received his second yellow card in the 73rd minute (he faulted Pinto in the midfield) and the direct expulsion of Santa Coloma´s Javi Sánchez for a red card in the 95th minute for tripping Pedro.

 In the end, Pidasa did not make a comeback and Lusitans, with three points, revolutionized the championship leaving everything open for the second part of the regular season and play-offs.

Photo: Alex Izquierdo, transferred from FC Encamp to Pidassa, loses a ball in a midfield battle to Lauredian, Matamala, in Aixovall yesterday.