Barça Alusport duly defeated Lugo in the second leg of the Spanish Cup semi final to make the Final in Toledo with a comfortable, serious performance.
STATS
FC BARCELONA ALUSPORT, 6
AZKAR LUGO, 1
FC Barcelona Alusport (2+4): Paco Sedano (1), Chico, Javi Rodríguez, Saad (1),
Wilde –starting five-, Jordi Torras, Ari Santos (2), Carlos (1), Igor, Sepe, Eric Martel and
Cristian (keeper).
Azkar Lugo (0+1): Óscar, Adri, Rafa López, Matamoros (1), Miguel –starting
five-, Guerra, Hugo, Genaro, Iago Míguez, Antonio and Mendiola (keeper).
Goals: 1-0, Paco Sedano (14’); 2-0, Carlos (18’); 3-0, Saad
(24’); 4-0, Hugo(o.g.)(27’); 5-0, Ari Santos (32’); 5-1, Matamoros (34’);
6-1, Ari Santos (34’);
Referees: Alonso Montesinos and Rubio Fajardo. Yellow cards for Lugo players Óscar
and Matamoros.
Venue: Palau Blaugrana.
Although they had virtually won the tie with their victory in the first leg, Barça didn’t
relax for this game and coach Marc Carmona showed his intentions by sending out his best team, with
Chico, Javi Rodríguez, Wilde and Saad joined by Paco Sedano who returned to the starting line up.
The players were determined to put on a show for the fans and Azkar were also keen to
entertain, in contrast with their ultra defensive strategy when they came to the Palau in the
league: that may have worked quite well then, but their performance this time round was much more
entertaining to watch.
The chances came from the start and Javi Rodriguez had a great opportunity to put the hosts
one up when Igor set him up at the far post, but he shot high and wide. Soon after Javi again found
himself in a good position, but he chose to pass to Wilde, whose shot was stopped by the Lugo
keeper Oscar.
Santos returns and Paco Sedano scores!
There was never really any doubt about who would get through to the
final and Carmona took the chance to give youngster Sepe a good run out, as well as bringing on Ari
Santos for his first game in six months, but whilst all eyes were on the Brazilian, it was keeper
Paco Sedano who opened the scoring with a lob over the advanced Lugo keeper Oscar.
That put an end to any slight hope the visitors might have had and just before the break,
Carlos made it two after good work from Sepe.
Azkar took advantage of a certain relaxation from Barça after the break and began to pose
something of a threat, but Wilde was having none of it and after just missing out with a double
occasion, he set up Saad to score after Oscar had parried his shot.
Èric Martel impresses and Ari is on target again
A minute later, youngster Eric Martel, who caused a lot of problems for
the visitors and saw a chance come back off the post late on, won a penalty, but Javi Rodríguez
then missed from the spot. Martel was also involved in the fourth, as his cross was turned into his
own net by Lugo’s Hugo. Javi’s bad luck in front of goal continued when he saw a nice
chip come back off the bar, but Ari Santos marked his return with two late penalty goals, whilst
Matamoros scored a consolation goal for the Galicians.
This was a clinical demolition in the end and Barça now go to the final in Toledo to look for
their second title .