A goal in the last second by Bilbija, following a probable foul in attack, knocked out the champions. Barça Borges won’t play for the title this Sunday after losing to Cuatro Rayas from Valladolid in a hard, tense match, controlled well in the first half, but crazy in the second, and a terrible end to the game for Xavi Pascual’s side.

A lot at stake

In the As Travesas pavilion, the game started with lots of nerves, tension, mistakes, and tactical movements to confuse the opposition, like playing with a rush goalkeeper, that Juan Carlos Pastor tried on a couple of occasions but without the desired result. In the highest scoring knockout tournament ever, Barça were ahead in the 8th minute, by just 2-1, an accurate reflection of what was at stake.

It was difficult finding the opponents net, in Valladolid’s case due to good goalkeeping by Gonzalo, and solid defense from Pascual’s team, with the outstanding Oneto, but gradually both sets of players began to push forward, like Entrerrios and Victor Thomas for Barça, and Valladolid’s Serbian star Cutura.

The game carried on in the same fashion, with Barça Borges ahead but by rarely more than one goal difference. It was an even game, where small details might decide the outcome. Gonzalo, Entrerrios, and Noddesbo conspired to put Barça ahead (9-6), a cushion of 3 goals that they managed to maintain until 5 minutes before half-time, but Barca failed to handle being a man down, and Pastor’s team reduced the deficit to one goal (11-10). Due to the inspiration of Rutenka and another Gonzalo save, Barça finished the half with a two goal margin, (12-10), a score that just about reflected the first half play.

Total intensity and a toss-up finish

After the restart Valladolid raised the intensity of their game and Perales equalised (14-14). Rutenka and Igropulo tried hard to curb the Valladolid impetus, who were being cheered on by their numerous fans. Match on again, but the pace that Pastor was looking for, and a very solid defense, meant that Valladolid went ahead for the 1st time, 8 minutes into the half (15-16).

Pascual sent on Juanin, who had been held back up to now, and his goal brought Barça back into the game at a tricky moment (16-18). Barça Borges tried to create space for their game, and drew level again thanks to 2 goals from a very active Noddesbo, but Valladolid were on top in the match. In a less than fluent game, Juanin (2) and Rutenka had 3 penalties saved by Sierra, complicating the situation, and with ten minutes left Valladolid were 2 ahead (19-21). Yet again Barça came back to draw level (22-22).

The last couple of minutes were heart attack stuff, with any result possible and lots of tension in the air. Victor Tomàs put Barça ahead with only 3 minutes left on the clock, but Cuatro Rayas came back at them once again, and Perales scored a vital goal to make it 24-25 with thirty seconds left.

Barça Borges had one last attack and Rutenka equalised brilliantly to force extra time that never came. In ten seconds, and with numerical superiority, Valladolid scored the winning goal that sunk the aspirations of the Barça players.