The Santa Coloma derby focused all eyes on yesterday’s 8th day of the First Division, the start of the second round of the regular season. Pidasa FC Santa Coloma won the match against Escale UE Santa Coloma with the same score they obtained on the first day of the League (2-1). Yesterday’s match was quite different from the match in Alàs, however, because both teams played to their full potential and they fought hard from the beginning for their three points, which are very valuable at this point in the competition.

Not without controversy, Pidasa claimed the win with the help of number 10, Juli Sánchez, who orchestrated two of Roura’s goals - and they continue to occupy second place in the standings, tied at 19 points with FC Lusitans la Posa and one point behind the leaders, Matecosa Sant Julià, who lived up to expectations. Escale lost steam after the 8th day and lost their standing, and they are now five points behind the leader.  

A very open match in Santa Coloma

Yesterday’s audience in Aixovall enjoyed a colorful Santa Coloma derby, as both teams played well during the 90 minutes. While Lluís Miquel Aloy’s boys attempted to combine beautiful plays to penetrate Pidassa’s defense, Roura’s team started the scoreboard ticking with a direct game. In the 10th minute, Oscar sent a long pass from the defensive line to Beto, who ran the ball three fourths down the pitch and Juli scored against a slightly advanced Rivas.

Escale did not relent and in the 20th minute they had two chances to score. Bernat, fast as always, slipped by Lucho’s left side and assisted at the second post looking for Boris who watched as Oscar scored. Bernard returned to break through the same side again until he faced Ricky one on one and hurled the ball, but the goalkeeper impressively blocked the attempt.

Aloy’s team’s reward came in the second half, in a play that Rubio started with a foul from the left lane. Roca brought the score to a tie after taking control of the ball inside the goal area and without opposition he sent the ball to Ricky’s right post.

Before the break, Gilbert miraculously blocked Bernat’s pass to Guida - who still remained in Pidassa’s goal area - and on the other hand, Juli overcame Martínez and Gonçalves and he hurled a dry shot against the goalkeeper Rivas, who blocked it and sent it the corner.

Escale’s pride was wounded after the break, and even though Bernat and Boris (58´) seemed to warn of a counterattack, they eventually watched as Ricky threw himself at the forward’s feet and thwarted his plans. In the 62nd minute, Nieto was Escale’s star player, first intercepting a shot from Beto that landed in front of Ribas - even though it was deflected - and afterwards he sent Gilbert’s head shot to the corner.

A dubious penalty tipped the scales

The controversial play occurred in the 74th minute when Alex Martínez tripped Beto who found himself alone in front of Rivas. Juli sent a long pass to Beto, which he caught near the front. Martínez was “forced” to foul as the last man, tackling Beto while he faced the goalkeeper, but it was unsure whether the foul occurred outside the goal area, on the line or inside the area. The referee gave Martínez a red card with a maximum penalty and Juli scored from the goal line to bring the final score to 2-1.

Escale’s number 9, Boris, held the possibility of a tie in his hands during injury time. Bernat made another pass backwards, which defense lost and Boris took control of the ball again, who found himself alone in front of the two posts, but he shot too high and missed.

Matecosa and Lusitans do not disappoint

Matecosa UE Sant Julià continue as the First Division’s solitary leaders, thanks to yesterday’s victory against Inter Escaldes with a score of 2-0. Lusitans la Posa obtained the same results against Principat. Also, FC Casa Benefica made an impressive first victory with a score of 4-1 against FC Encamp, which adds excitement to the team standings at the bottom of the list where FC Encamp are tied at 4 points with Principat, Encamp and Casa Benfica. Inter is 5th with 7 points.

Photo: Escale’s foul by captain, Alexandre Martínez, which resulted in a direct expulsion with a maximum penalty.