xixon 1 - 1 Espluga (394093300)

1059 spectators arrived at molinon arena, where weather conditions were pretty good for football. Juul Koek was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Xordan Currás and Marco Metelka. A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for xixon. Starters: Gazza - Arenas, Purificacion, Stuttgarter - Imperial, Chunta, Szaj, Cistue, Larrango - Álvarez, Petrineta.

Espluga started off with a 5-3-2 lineup. The following players took the field: López Gutiérrez - Inoriza, Bertrán, Berjawi, Logedo, Juarrero - Naharro, Vogelsanger, Hökwald - del Páramo, Soto.

The wings were the focus of most of xixon's attacks today. With 2 minutes played, seemingly due to lack of experience, F. Arenas needlessly tripped an opponent just outside the penalty area, but the free kick that followed didn't succeed. It was obvious that xixon had instructions to attack on the wings instead of in the middle. 27 minutes in, Espluga's F. Bertrán received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. 0 - 0 was the halftime score. xixon had most of the ball, with 59 percent of possession.

The visitors' central defence should have had no trouble clearing the pass to F. Arenas, but the xixon player managed to shrug them off and fired a low shot past the keeper to give his team the lead. 1 - 0! B. Petrineta had a fantastic opportunity to put xixon up another goal 63 minutes into the match, but he fired just over the crossbar. With 70 minutes played, the Espluga coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. M. Kreiner came on, L. Juarrero had to leave the fray. The visitors didn't give in and, after 72 minutes, J. Vogelsanger got through the home side's central line of defence, rolling in the equaliser to make it 1 - 1. 73 minutes were showing on the scoreboard when Espluga's F. Bertrán received his second yellow card and was sent off. 76 minutes had elapsed when a great chance for xixon to take the lead after a good cross from the right found R. Szaj alone with the keeper, but he chipped it to the wrong side of the post. 77 minutes into the game Espluga managed a counterattack, but M. Naharro took a soft shot from the left flank that was easy prey for the alert keeper. I. Purificacion of xixon was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. Possession in this half belonged to xixon, who controlled the ball 59 percent of the time.

xixon's top performer was clearly B. Petrineta. On the other hand, V. Imperial's play was disheartening. J. Vogelsanger performed admirably for Espluga. X. del Páramo turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 1 - 1.