With the domestic championship already decided, yesterday the Classic between the league champion, Pidasa FC Santa Coloma, and the second placed team, Matecosa UE Sant Julià, ended with a final score of 1-1. On the other hand, First Division’s last placed team, FC Casa Benfica, finished their season yesterday with a painful defeat 0-13 to CE Principat. Benfica lost their standing in the First Division and Encamp is awaiting their rival – there are still three match days left in the Promotion Playoffs – and for the promotion that may or may not place them in the First Division. 

The Play Off Title and Relegation Play-offs were decided yesterday in the Domestic League’s First Division. The match between Pidasa FC Santa Coloma and Matecosa UE Sant Julià in Alàs ended in a tie. The most memorable moment of the day was when Sant Julià applauded Santa Coloma during their entry, shortly before the start of the match.

Despite the lack of tension, having nothing at stake, the duel was as intense as always between the two teams.

While Sant Julià had more control on the halfway line, Santa Coloma had more chances to score in the first half than in the second half. In regards to Sant Julià, Sebas Gómez tested goalkeeper Ricky in the 8th minute of play but he used his feet well to block the shot. The most dangerous moments for Santa Coloma occurred between Juli and Beto and also when international Under-21 player, SamÍr, demonstrating strength and skill, overcame defence player, Walter on the right side and made it all the way to the far line. A center shot by Samïr in the 12th minute ended with a rebound shot by Renato to the second post which slipped by Friday to the right. It was Beto in the 32nd minute who initiated the play that opened up the right side for Samïr who watched as defence player, Varela, sent the ball under the post.

Same script in the second act

While Sant Julià’s Sebas had a similar opportunity to score in the 59th minute as Samïr previously did in the first half, Santa Coloma’s most active player was Julià – putting Friday to the test with a dry shot in the 49th minute. The young player did everything well in the 62nd minute besides the death pass to ensure Beto and Juli’s arrival.  In the end he made Friday work hard in the 69th minute, the moment in which he broke the defensive line taking advantage of a long pass from Genís, finding himself alone in front of Friday. The goalkeeper blocked Samïr’s shot with skill, sending the ball to the corner.

Goals in the final stretch

 It was in the 80th minute when the young Sant Julià player, Javier Aymat, stopped Juli with a foul inside the goal area when the Santa Coloma forward was in front of Friday. Beto tricked Friday in the penalty shot, sending the ball to the right lower corner. Hoping to be the League’s top scorer – he had to score two goals in order to tie with Víctor Bernat (UE Santa Coloma)-.

 Sant Julià’s reaction arrived two minutes later. Quim Salvat cleared the lane for Sebas who returned to the front and hurled a shot to the net, which Ricky reached to block but was unsuccessful, touching the ball but the post spit it back into the net. The impressive goal brought the score to a definitive 1-1 tie and the decided the distribution of points. Pidasa closed the season without losing any match in the play-offs and with a total of 47 points. Sant Julià, in second place, finished the season with 43 points.

The other match for the play-off title between FC Lusitans la Posa and Escale UE Santa Coloma ended 3-0 for Lusitans with two goals by Cardoso in the first minute, Maciel in the 25th minute and Raya in the 42nd minute.

 In the lower standings of the First Division, CE Principat were top scorers against Casa Benfica (0-13) in the match that took place at 16h in Alàs. Marc Fillola scored one goal, Solà three, Da Cunha two and Alfaya, Viegasand Veloso scored the rest of the goals. Inter d’Escaldes and Encamp closed the day with Inter d’Escaldes as the winners (3-1) and unfortunately with a fight in the 94th minute with 5 expelled players for red cards (3 players from Encamp and 2 from Inter d’Escaldes).