Pidasa FC Santa Coloma and Matecosa UE Sant Julià are still in a fight for first place in the rankings after a 4th epical match day for the play-off title full of emotion. Only these two teams - who have assured themselves a place in the European League- aspire to become League champions now that FC Lusitans la Posa (third) have been mathematically left out of the fight after their loss to the current leader. Vicenç Marquès’ men had victory within their grasp in a match in which they won 2-1 with only nine minutes left to spare.

Santa Coloma’s midfielder, Chanca Urbani, became the star player when he scored 3-2 in the 94th minute, leaving Lusitans out of the league, in the last match in which he wore the number 20. The Argentinean player who is returning to his country, had a sweet goodbye, leaving his club through the big door.

The leaders achieve a new win under snowy skies and full of emotion and sweat

Pidasa FC Sant Coloma beat Lusitans La Posa by 3-2 in a duel in Aixovall in the middle of a heavy snowfall. Santa Coloma jumped onto the grass knowing that Matecosa had done their homework, beating Escale UE Santa Coloma (2-0) in Alàs and leaving nothing unsaid. During the first half, Santa Coloma had several chances to advance the scoreboard. Santa Coloma’s defence, Txema, especially motivated, entered the goal area a few times in the 3rd and the 27th minutes which required goalkeeper Andrés’ intervention. Pidasa’s goalkeeper, Ricky, also intervened in an impressive block in the 4th minute of play, in a direct throw-in by Dos Reis (from the right side) which the goalkeeper resolved by sending the ball to the corner with his fist.

Santa Coloma pushed hard and Xinos attempted to score with an acrobatic finish from the front but he lost the ball over the crossbar. In the end, Pidasa’s first goal arrived in a complex play in the 38th minute. Txema passed the ball to Chancha, who was fouled by Martins when he entered the area. The referee left the ball in play and it arrived at Alejandro’s feet who hurled the ball toward the net and Andrés blocked it. The ball rebounded to Sonejee, however, who was alone at the second post and he scored in a then empty goal area.

Yellow ball in the second half

The snow accumulated on the grass and the workers had to clear the lines, at which point a yellow ball came into play because of the two centimetres of snow on the ground. Vicenç Marquès’ team were more focused after the break which they proved with their ability to turn the scoreboard around. Veloso brought the score to a tie in the 64th minute with an impeccable head shot from the foul line in a foul service by Dos Reis, and Pedro Miguel Reis scored the final goal, bringing the score to 1-2 with a perfect counter attack by the same number 9 from Lusitans with a cross shot after getting rid of defence player, Ribolleda. In the 81st minute Pidasa watched as the match got away from him, but the comeback became a possibility much to his surprise.  

Manolo scored a direct foul in the 86th minute and with a direct shot in which he overcame Andrés who did not calculate his play well. Ricky saved his team with the 2-2 score, stopping two close shots by Lusitan’s Nuno in the 91st minute. Chancha finished Pidasa’s epical afternoon with the winning goal. Four minutes into overtime, Manolo fouled while aiming for Chancha’s head at the second post, who with an impeccable shot over the goalkeeper’s head unleashed Santa Coloma’s joy. One last goal by Chancha sealed this stage of Andorran football in the best possible way.

Matecosa do not secure their victory until the final part

Sant Julià were unable to perforate goalkeeper Rivas’ net until the 87th minute of play when Peppe culminated with a cross shot in a play that stemmed from defence. Gonçalves finished the job with the definitive 2-0 during the countdown, taking advantage of a center shot by Sebas Gómez. The current top scorer of the League, Santa Coloma’s Victor Bernat brought Sant Julià’s defence out of the wormwood and was the player with the most opportunities to score for his team, but the lack of precision of his last shot left him without his final prize. In addition, Escale was left with ten men after the expulsion of Boris for pushing Walter in the 46th minute. Julio Ferreros’ men are in 2nd place after the victory with 41 points and are now two points behind the leader.

Relegation Play-off
The League’s current last placed team FC Casa Benfica are fighting to keep their standing in the Second Division and yesterday they won one more point in their match against Inter Club d’Escaldes (1-1). With just two match days left and six points at stake, Benfica have FC Encamp – they lost 8-0 against CE Principat – with four points and they are due to play against them next Sunday. Nothing is decided yet, however, considering that Encamp and Benfica are up for promotion to First Division one more year.

Photo: Chancha Urbani, star player in yesterday’s duel against Lusitans, at Aixovall’s snow-covered pitch.

Sílvia Casals.