Barça Alusport became provisional league leader, on their own, after beating Manacor in the brought forward game of the fourth match-day. It was a pretty comfortable win, mainly due to a very good first half.
MATCH STATS
FCB ALUSPORT, 5
FISIOMEDIA MANACOR, 2
FC Barcelona Alusport (3+2): Cristian, Igor, Ari Santos (2), Jordi Torras,
Fernandao - starting five -, Wilde (1), Gabriel (1), Sergio Lozano, Javi Rodriguez, Lin (1), Saad,
Paco Sedano.
Fisiomedia Manacor (1+1): Toñete, Juan Carlos Lopez, Ruben, Jesus Illán, Jose Ruiz
-starting five-, Joselito Rodriguez (1), Vega, Martin Amas, Paulinho (1), Chus.
Goals: 1-0, Ari Santos (2'), 2-0 Lin (6'), 3-0, Ari Santos (15') 3-1, Rodriguez
(19'), 4-1, Wilde (33'), 5-1, Gabriel (35'), 5-2, Paulinho (38').
Referees: Alonso Montesinos and Rubio Fajardo (Aragon). Yellow cards for visitors
Toñete, Martin Amas, and Jesus Illán.
Pavilion: Palau Blaugrana.
3 from 3. Barça Alusport beat Fisiomedia Manacor, and added another victory in the league.
Carmona’s superior team had control for practically the whole match, against a rival side who
were willing, but suffered a lot in the first twenty minutes. 2 goals from Ari Santos, and 1 from
Lin had the game tied up before the break. Wilde and Gabriel, who made his debut in a Barça shirt,
certified the victory in the second half.
The game started with Fisiomedia Manacor willing to do battle with the
help of an ex-Barça player: Juan Carlos Lopez had the first good chance with a shot that Cristian
saved with his feet. It was the first warning but only a mirage, as Barça took absolute control of
the match from the early stages. Proof of that was the early goal to make it 1-0, following a
brilliant move by Igor. The “Wizard of Fortaleza” turned the Manacor defence inside
out, and passed to Ari Santos, who scored at the far post. The goal settled the Barça team, who
made it 2-0 shortly after with a goal from Lin, who picked up a failed attempt from Wilde.
Goals give confidence
Alusport, playing with a lot of confidence, began to move the ball around with
ease, and their pressure game, high up the pitch, helped them to recover ball after ball. A
time-out, called by the visitors, was needed, but the minute break didn’t change the script.
Barça Alusport closed down their opponents, and gave nothing away in defence, with Cristian a mere
spectator.
Saad came very close to getting the third goal, but the game was losing continuity. Martin
Amas almost took advantage of the situation, but his shot hit the bar. This effort woke up the
Barça players. A lethal counter attack by Igor, who was fouled by Toñete, ended with Ari Santos
scoring to make it 3-0
Igor and Wilde were still doing their own things, and forcing fouls, which ended up with a
double penalty. But a possible 4-0 ended in 3-1. Toñete blocked an Ari Santos shot, and a deadly
counter-attack, with a two against one situation, ended with a goal from Javi Rodriguez. 3-1 at
half-time.
A pace that suited the away team
The second half began with the bitter aftertaste of the away goal, and
this affected Alusport at the start of the second half. Manacor began to believe in their
possibilities and were getting closer to the Barça goal. Carmona’s players were off their
game, and the match was turning in Manacor’s favour.
Barca Alusport came back with a counter-attack led by Sergio Lozano, that ended up with a
shot from Fernandao, and a free-kick from Saad, just outside the area. Both moves came up against a
very good Toñete, who undoubtedly prevented a much bigger scoreline. But the extra gear that the
home side found ended with the reward of a goal from Wilde. The Brazilian was not going to fail in
another Barça Alusport victory. Goals from Gabriel, his first for Barça, and an away goal in the
last minute, from Paulinho, closed out the game.