The National League returned from Christmas break with the 13th day-second to last in the regular phase-. FC Lusitans la Posa, who had finished 2010 as the leading team, played a difficult match in Aixovall against Escale UE Santa Coloma. Vicenç Marquès’ men fought hard for their victory (3-2), having to make a comeback from an early score of 0-2.

Lusitans knew-after the start of the match-that they could not make a mistake if they wanted to remain the leaders, since their greatest rivals, Matecosa UE Sant Julià and Pidasa FC Santa Coloma did not relent against CE Principat and FC Casa Benfica, respectively.

Two very different parts
Escale UE Santa Coloma clearly dominated the first half of the match against Lusitans. Lluís Miquel Aloy’s boys jumped onto the pitch hoping to offer a good football match, which resulted in opportunities to score and goals. The best proof of this was the early goal in the 1st minute by Boris Anton. The play was carried out mostly by Victor Bernat, who took advantage of a direct, center shot by Rubio from the halfway line. Between Lusitans’ goalkeeper’s exit and defense, the ball was dead, and it was in that moment that Boris intervened and pushed the ball to the net.  Twenty minutes later, Rubio and Bernat joined again to bring to score to 0-2, goalkeeper Gonzalo was able to block the powerful shot by Santa Coloma’s forward but Gerard Aloy took advantage of the rebound and kicked the ball to the second post and scored the second goal.

Albert Rodríguez debuted in Santa Coloma’s midfield, and was one of the team’s star players, setting the pace and blocking the rival team's attempts to score. FC Lusitans were not in control and in the 30th minute Reis took advantage of a bad shot from defense, Nieto, to his goalkeeper, Rivas, to close the gap before the break. Santa Coloma’s goalkeeper, Rivas, had previously intervened after blocking a high shot from the edge by Raya.

Lusitans go after the victory
The second half belonged to Lusitans and who suffered the most was their goalkeeper, Rivas, who worked hard to block the other team’s attempt to score. Even though the match became more difficult, Marques’ squad took the blunt of it. In the 70th minute Santa Coloma’s Rui fouled Raya in the right lane, which resulted in a tiebreaker. Cardoso ceded to Leo who flung a long shot to Rivas which he could not stop.

Five minutes later, the comeback became a reality when Gravet sent a long shot to Raya which resulted, with a cut to Rivas who left the area, with a goal in an empty net.

Escale, overcome by emotion and helplessness, were left with two less men when Rubio received a second yellow card for kicking Meza, and Josep Vall for criticizing the referee for possible impartiality. Eight points behind the leader, Santa Coloma are very far from the title. On the other hand, FC Lusitans strengthened their morale and emerged from the match with hopes to win the League, and they continue to lead with 32 points.

Matecosa and Pidasa effortlessly resolve their commitments
Matecosa UE Sant Julià (2nd, with 31 points) beat CE Principat by 3-0. Defense, Walter, opened the scoreboard in the 29th minute. Later, two players who do not often compose Sant Julia’s list of 11 players, Pinto and Carballo, were vindicated with two goals in the 32nd and 63rd minutes. The match’s good news was the reappearance of the international goalkeeper, Ivan Perianes, after several months out with a serious knee injury.

Pidasa had no mercy and took a 10-0 win against FC Casa Benfica. With four goals by returned Alejandro Romero, two by Xinos and Chancha and two more goals, Oriol Fité and Txema finished the match. Santa Coloma are two points behind the leader and in 3rd place.

Inter beat FC Encamp by 2-1, but both goals were by Inter since Marinho scored in his own net in the 19th minute. Encamp’s team, with a new coach, were left with only 10 players when Martín was expelled in the 14th minute for a double yellow card.; with nine players in the 32nd minute when Oscar Monteagudo received a second yellow card, and with eight players in the 47th minute when Medeiros stumbled to the locker room early. Inter took advantage of the situation with goals by Almeida in the 56th minute and Lopes in the 89th minute.

The first round of the Constitution Cup
The Second Division teams left the League behind to participate in the first round of the 2011 Constitution Cup. UE Engordany beat FC Lusitans B (4-3) and they will play the second round against FC Encamp; UE Extremenya beat Pidasa FC Santa Coloma B with a score of 4-2 and they will play FC Casa Benfica in the second round; Ranger’s FC beat Penya Encarnada with a score of 4-1 and they will confront CE Principat A and lastly Atlètic Escaldes beat Principat B and next week they play Inter Club Escaldes.

Photo: The happy leaders celebrate Maciel’s tiebreaking goal.