22.05.2009 22:48
Painful elimination (2-4)
Cristina Collado
Barça Mobicat’s season is over after losing their league play-off quarter final to Pinto. The side from Madrid were just that little bit more effective in the end
After such a good season, it was a cruel blow for Barça Mobicat to go out at this stage, but
that’s sport, and all credit has to go to the surprise package of the season. Tien21 P.
Millenium Pinto beat Barça Mobicat and go into the semi finals in their first ever season of top
flight futsal.
Barça Mobicat did all they could and had two
chances in the first few seconds of the game. Saad struck first and then Fernandao’s effort
was turned away by visiting keeper Gus. Javi Rodríguez then volleyed straight into the defence -
Barça Mobicat were in command but the goals weren’t coming.
Saad and Fernandao enjoyed further chances that Gus dealt with expertly, and Pinto had yet to
have a shot of their own.
Pinto go ahead
So it was totally against the run of play that Pinto went ahead following a set play in the
seventh minute finished off by Luis Arrizabalaga. Hugo and Retamar had come close shortly before,
but in situations of far less danger than those produced by Barça Mobicat.
Maximum tension
Barça Mobicat lost their cool somewhat, but
regrouped and equalised through PC. Their confidence back they started commanding the game again,
but failed to turn that dominance into goals.
As before, just as Barça Mobicat were marvelling with quality play, the visitors scored.
Retamar broke free and in a one-on-one with Cristian the Pinto man came out tops and tapped home
into an empty net. 1-2
Barça responded with a powerful Jordi Sánchez strike to level affairs again, and almost took
the lead when Saad hit the post just before half time.
Playing catch up
Three minutes after the restart, there was more misfortune when Fabián struck the ball onto
the bar, but it rebounded into the net. Barça were behind again.
Saad Assis once again led the Barça reaction, but this was not the most effective of Barça
performances. Then after eight minutes Matamoros hit home hard to put his side two goals ahead. It
was not looking good for Barça Mobicat.
Tense ending
Matters could have changed after 30 minutes. Gus
brought down Fernandao, but was only penalised with a yellow. That was also foul number five for
Pinto, but the referees awarded no further frees in favour of Barça Mobicat.
It was a tense ending, with Saad, Chico and Fernandao all creating chances, and Javi
Rodríguez was sent on a rush goalie to try to inspire a comeback. With just 1:16 on the clock,
Jordi Sánchez hit the post, but it was too little too late, and the 4-2 win sends Pinto into the
semi finals.
MATCH STATS
FC BARCELONA MOBICAT, 2
TIEN21 P. MILLENIUM PINTO, 4
FC Barcelona Mobicat (2+0): Cristian, PC (1), Javi Rodríguez, Saad, Fernandao
– starting five – Chico, Carlos, Jordi Sánchez (1), Rafa Muñoz
Pinto (2+2): Gus, Contreras, Fabián (1), Retamar, Hugo – starting five
– Sergio, Luis (1), Matamoros (2), Campos
Goals: 0-1, Luis (7’); 1-1, PC (13’), 1-2, Matamoros (15’); 2-2,
Jordi Sánchez; (16’), 2-3, Fabián (23’); 2-4, Matamoros (28’)
Referees: Radadán Sáinz and Sánchez Molina