2-0. Ibiza defeats Racing de Ferrol after another lesson of patience
Of all the positive points Ibiza has developed since the start of preseason, maybe the most significant is the one of patience with which the team operates on the pitch. Once again, the sky blues made use of this virtue to break down the resistance of Racing de Ferrol. A goal by Diego Mendoza, in the 73rd, and another by Raí, in the 89th minute, confirmed the third win of the season on home soil. Playing at home, Ibiza has been victorious on each occasion so far. Scoring six goals, the team only conceded one in the three home fixtures to date. These figures explain, statistically speaking, why the team led by Pablo Alfaro has been performing so well.
In contrast to Rayo Majadahonda and Pontevedra, the visitors from Ferrol did not start the match with a defensive line of five. However, the side from Galicia proved to be just as solid a block to break down. Up front, Juan Antonio and Joselu, the two tall forwards, tried to cause a headache for the Ibiza central defence, today consisting of Gonzalo and Rubén. Ibiza was missing a creative spark to finish off its attacking moves, but that did not stop the home side from taking the initiative time and time again in the first half. In the 34th minute, Rubén and Juan Antonio switched roles: soaring to head a ball, the defender and Racing's forward clashed, causing the Ibiza defender to brought down in the box. The referee saw no reason in awarding a penalty.
Little by little, Ibiza got itself closer to finding the opening goal. First, it was Javi Pérez whose header went over the bar just before half-time. The intermission did nothing to change Ibiza's determination to open the score. Rodado and Cirio both came close with their respective efforts and put Racing on further alert. Núñez was next in line to try and break the deadlock with a shot from within the box which Ferrol's Diego Rivas managed to deal with. Shortly afterwards, the Galicians' keeper had to step up again to parry an effort by Raí who had come on for Fran Carbia.
It was after that chance that Diego Mendoza entered the pitch to replace Sergio Cirio who handed the captain's armband to Gonzalo for the remainder of the match. Germán, and then Kike López upheld their defensive duties to keep Ibiza in control of a match which Racing was trying its best to turn the tables on. The opening goal of Diego Mendoza, however, was not far off. Javi Lara picked up a loose ball and provided a long ball for Rodado who headed it on towards Diego Mendoza. Surprising the visitors' defence, the Argentinean put himself in a position to drill a powerful shot past Diego Rivas. That's exactly what Ibiza's new forward did to bring the crowd at Can Misses to its feet. A patient approach to the game paid off once again for Ibiza.
Germán was called into action again to ensure there was no equaliser for a Racing team that never looked to surrender. Ibiza did not sit back and decide to speculate on bringing the slender lead across the line. Once again, it was Rodado who set up Raí who entered the box from the right hand flank and produced a clinical finish to put the game to bed. It was the end to a match which confirmed another win for Ibiza that has collected thirteen from a possible fifteen points in its last five league matches.
