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CD
JAVEA |
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SEASON
2009-10 |
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MATCH
REPORT 2009-10 |
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BELIEF
SECURES VICTORY FOR BATTLING JAVEA As David Ivars coolly slotted home the third goal in the second minute of added-on-time, a strike that snuffed out Mutxamel's late and almost inevitably successful charge for an equaliser, several members of the coaching staff punched the air in delight before dropping to their knees and staring wide-eyed into the heavens. After the turmoil of the past few weeks, chaos that almost tore apart the football irreparably, they could maybe be forgiven for allowing themselves some divine reflection. Against all the odds that had stacked up almost immeasurably against the rojiblancos before this match, their young side had condemned their hosts to their first home defeat of the season by believing in themselves and their teammates. Mutxamel absolutely battered the Javea goal during a second-half in which they must have had some 75% of the possession. However the rojiblancos stood together with determined resolution and were rewarded with maximum points for the first time in six games. It was a performance that should send a clear message to Javea: we have belief, now come and show us that you do too! It has to be said that this belief didn't immediately rub off onto the small cabal of Javeamigos who travelled down the A-7 to Mutxamel for this Saturday evening game. The team-sheet sprung several surprises: Feliu was relegated to the bench, possibly carrying a niggling injury, and the experienced midfielder Valentin asked to lead a young defensive line in front of the vocal Ortolá. Both Onieva and Gerardo were also on the bench whilst the petulant Duque and meagre Orenes both claimed surprising starts whilst gangly striker Alex Mata would made his second start of the season alongside David Ivars. The rojiblancos started enthusiastically and Dino's charge down the right-hand side forced a free-kick just outside the area which Valentin used to force a corner but the former Andorra UE player (he's played in the UEFA Cup, you know!) was unable to convert the chance. Minutes later Mata chased a through-ball from Duque but allowed himself to be pushed wide into the area and the early opportunity was lost as the Mutxamel defence rallied. On 10 minutes Pablo Irigoyen, surely one of the brighter prospects of this young team, charged into the area on the right-hand side, leaving his marker trailing in his wake, and crossed low across the face of the goal to David Ivars, alone in acres of space on the far side, but the season's leading hitman was foiled by a brilliant block from the keeper at point-blank range. Javea continued to apply the pressure in the opening half of the first period and forced a succession of corners which the home defence worked hard to clear. Mutxamel were becoming increasingly frustrated at the inability to get out of their own half and the free-kick count was climbing rapidly. On the quarter-hour mark, Valentin send a wonderful free-kick over the heads of the defensive line but David Ivars was only able to head the ball wide, admittedly from a very narrow angle. Mutxamel began to claw themselves back into the game with their tricky winger Miguelo giving Vicente, in for the injured Rubén Serrío, plenty of problems down the right-hand side. Midway through the half, he charged past the young left-back and put in a terrific cross which Yousso managed to kick away whilst surrounded by a flurry of incoming blue shirts. The screw was turned and the hosts carved out a succession of real chances, taking advantage of some worrying weaknesses on the flanks, but their shooting accuracy was for the most part woefully out-of-sorts. However goalkeeper Ortolá pulled another trademark 'wonder-save' out of the bag to tip an attempted lob from Mutxamel's Javel over the bar at full stretch. Minutes later De la Sagra had a golden chance to open the scoring but he directed his powerful header straight into the chest of the goalkeeper. Javea collected themselves after absorbing a long period of pressure and might have scored on the half-hour mark when David Ivars put a perfectly floated cross into the area but Mata could only direct his header just inches wide of the left-hand upright. Seven minutes later Ivars himself put the rojiblancos in front with surely an early contender for goal of the season. Youssoupha sent Ivars off down the left-hand side with a wonderful inch-perfect extended pass from the centre circle. The striker collected and jinked past his marker on the left edge of the area before twisting around and curving the ball across the face of the goal and beyond the desperate stretch of the keeper to nestle in the far side of the goal. The rojiblancos were in front with the first goal scored in open play for over 420 minutes - and what a goal! The second-half opened much like the first closed - with a goal. Pablo Irigoyen made life difficult once again for the Mutxamel defence down the right flank and manage to break clear of his marker close to the corner flag and charge into the area before unleashing a low, powerful cross into the box. Alex Mata connected well, his effort hitting the underside of the bar and bouncing down behind the keeper. There was a melee of players and Javea arms raised in celebration. Had the ball crossed the line? The referee looked over at his assistant and signalled a goal, sparking delayed celebration from the travelling fans. Javea now found themselves with a two goal cushion - and they needed it as Mutxamel stepped into a higher gear. Just two minutes later, the home side had pulled one back albeit in controversial circumstances. Taking advantage of the persistent weakness down the right-hand side, the ball was pushed through to Lozano who was clearly in an offside position. He passed across to the unmarked Jesús in the centre of the box who tapped home easily past a furious Ortolá, who would be booked for his continued rants at the officials after the goal was allowed to stand. Mutxamel then applied the pressure, working on the weaknesses down the flanks, and carved out a succession of chances. Some of the younger players needed to dig deep to prevent the hosts from finding a way back into the game and one or two sadly weren't able to find that extra fight affording sloppy crosses to hand the ball back to the opponents who were pushing hard for the goal. Coach José Luis should be commended for 'blooding' a few youngsters in the senior team but there are times when experience is required, even if that experience is carrying a niggling injury. Mutxamel got the ball in the back of the net on 68 minutes, an almost carbon-copy of their opening goal, but this time the officials deemed the effort was scored from an offside position and disallowed it, much to the relief of the travelling fans. Mutxamel continued to press for an equaliser but their shooting accuracy continued to let them down too many times. Then, six minutes from the end, Ortolá pulled off another superb reflex save on the line to deny David who surely would have scored against another less capable custodian. Mutxamel were desperate. After Ortolá had booted the ball out of the play to allow Vicente to receive attention, the home side chose to dispense with the usual sporting gesture of throwing the ball back to the opposition and elected instead to mount another attack, attracting much derision from the Javea fans. However, as the clock ticked past 92 minutes, the rojiblancos had the last laugh, when David Ivars picked up the ball just inside the opposition half and charged into the box with only the keeper to beat. With substitute Onieva alongside as an option, Ivars was confident enough to slide the ball under the desperate dive of the keeper and into the net to put the game beyond Mutxamel, condemn them to their first home defeat of the season and secure maximum points for CD Javea for the first time in six games. CD
JAVEA MUTXAMEL
CF Referee:
Antonio Andreu Sabuco |