2-0. Ibiza downs Coruxo

Pablo Alfaro had warned in the pre-match press conference about the challenge and difficulties Coruxo would present his side with at Can Misses. As he made his way to the press conference room after the made, Alfaro once again was clear in this message by saying that he had told his players that it was “necessary to respect the opposition” in order to “gain their respect” in return. It was the necessary approach for a match between two high-flying teams in Group I of Segunda B, and fifteen minutes into the match, it became clear that it was going to be a hard-fought encounter. Coruxo made their intentions clear from the outset that they were going to be an uncomfortable side for Alfaro’s men to face.

As the twenty-minute mark approached, Ibiza grew in confidence as a result of having created a number of promising attacking chances. Rodado and Javi Pérez both came close after getting on the end of a long ball by Quintanilla which nearly eclipsed Coruxo’s keeper Alberto. Ibiza kept up the pressure and was soon rewarded when Rodado was set up by Pierre and it was the striker’s unselfishness which led him to pass the ball to Javi Pérez, who, unmarked slotted home Ibiza’s opening goal. Before the half-time whistle sounded, Ibiza had a further couple of chances with Rodado nearly doubling his side’s lead.

Coruxo returned from the break feeling buoyed by the fact that they had managed to keep the scoreline to just a one goal disadvantage. Soon, however, the Galician visitors realized that Ibiza meant business and would continue to look for a second goal. That’s why the Galicians tried to stay alive, but the fact that they only managed to register their first shot on goal in the 67th minute gave Ibiza an added sense of optimism and confidence that the three points were definitely on the horizon and there for the taking.

Ibiza’s efforts eventually paid off when Rodado, who hadn’t scored in the second half of the season, gave the 2891 strong crowd at Can Misses plenty to cheer about with his first and his team’s second goal of the day. In doing so, Rodado gave his side a sense of tranquility after they had come close with a Borja strike that struck the post minutes earlier. Coruxo’s resistance had finally been broken as Ibiza went on to register its tenth win of the season at Can Misses. Pablo Alfaro’s side continues its streak of positive results not having conceded a goal in its last five outings. Plenty of reasons, then, for the Sky Blues to feel optimistic and confident about prior to embarking on its final away match in Galicia next Sunday against Racing de Ferrol.

Match details.

Match details. Ibiza: Lucas; Kike López, Quintanilla (Arranz, 75’), Rubén (Mariano, 62’), Pierre Cornud; Núñez, Javi Pérez, Javi Lara (Sergio Cirio, 62’); Raí, Rodado and Borja Martínez. Unused substitutions: Germán, Grima, Diego and Machuca.

Coruxo: Alberto; Antón, Lucas, Jacobo Trigo, Manu; Borja Yebra, Mateo, Álex Ares (Antón Escobar, 72’); Silva (Barril, 56’), Al Watani (Sylla, 81’) and Añón. Unused substitutes: Jonathan Vila and Pablo Brea.

Goals: 1-0, Javi Pérez (24’) and 2-0, Rodado (74’).

Referee: Sergio Pérez Muley (Madrid), assisted by Jabir Bouri Aittoubazine and Alberto González Oliva. Yellow cards shown to Núñez, Quintanilla, Raí, Mariano as well as Coruxo’s Mateo and Borja Yebra.

Estadio de Can Misses. 2891 spectators.