First match completed. There are three more to take off. Córdoba struck the first blow of the match after beating Ponferradina (0-1) in El Toralín in the first leg of the match. promotion play-off semi-finals to Second Division. Albarrán's goal tipped the balance for the Blanquiverdesin a close match. A somewhat grayer first half for the green and white, who improved in the second half and could even have sealed the draw. Iván Ania's men will have to seal their pass for the play-off final in El Arcángel next week.
Iván Ania gave no chance for surprises with his team in Ponferrada. Matías Barboza replaced the injured Martínez Antonio Casas regained ownership at the expense of Alberto Toril.The rest, the usual from the Asturian coachto get that first win in the play-off for promotion to the Second Division. The first dangerous arrivals came from Córdoba, which took another step in the race. Still, the first minutes were a matter of trial and error. Neither team took control of the match, but Córdoba feels a little more comfortable in El Toralín.
The green and white team quickly took over possession. He played and played the ball looking for Prieto's goal. He tried a lot on Adilson's side, but was met with Bercia's defense again and again. The first shot on target came from Diarra, after a run over Albarrán's wing. Ponferradina's danger came on the counter. Ernesto tried the shot, but the green and white defense quickly prevented the shot. Juanfran's team came into the match after the green-white dominance. They forced the first corner.
On the flanks, Córdoba, which was superior to Ponferradina, did not stop its efforts, but they needed one more march to prove it. Diarra tried again with a run down the right. He hung the ball in the middle of the area, but Kuki Zalazar did not make it to the auction. Even Albarrán, who was very active, tried again with a great run, but he couldn't find a finisher and Prieto caught him. The chances were green and white, but the spark was missing for that last decision in the penalty area.
Córdoba also suffered in defense. Matías Barboza and Isma Ruiz misunderstood each other and caused the theft of Ponferradina by Clavería, who saw Borja Valle standing unmarked in front of Carlos Marín alone. He shot, but the ball went wide, into the side of the net. Ponferradina gave Córdoba another mistake. Diarra recovered and the game ended with a shot from Carracedo only for the goalkeeper. The lightest for green and white. Iván Ania's team stormed the rival before halftime, but the goals were not forthcoming after the first 45 minutes.
Albarrán tips the balance
Córdoba jumped into the second half a little more comfortably. The result was that the first (and only) goal of the match was scored. A set piece in which Lapeña hit the post, Casas ran into the goalkeeper and Albarrán had to arrive to push the ball into the net and throw off the balance in El Toralín. (0-1, min. 49). It was difficult, but the goal came from the green and white team who deserved to be ahead on the scoreboard. Still, Ponferradina didn't stop pushing, as Ernesto had a goal disallowed for offside. After Albarrán's goal, the match came to a standstill.
Córdoba seemed strong enough to finish the match (and the draw). However, they could not compete against a rocky rival, well planted in their area. The green and white tried a counterattack, which ended with a shot from Diarra, but the goalkeeper made a good save. Ponferradina responded with a shot from Ernesto who took off right of Carlos Marín after stealing the ball from the green and white defense. With just over twenty minutes to go, Iván Ania made the first changes. He removed Casas, who already had a yellow card, and brought on Toril.
The scoreboard wasn't moving and it wasn't going to move. Carlos Marín was also to blame for this, as he showed up when his team needed him most. He made a good save after a dangerous shot by Ale Díez who almost sneaks into the goal, if the great reflexes of the green and white goalkeeper do not appear. The Asturian coach exhausted the substitutions little by little to put the match to sleep. Álex Sala, Kike Márquez, Leiva and Simo entered. The match was entering its final stages. Córdoba could have scored the second with a good Leiva, who came in from the right flank and put the ball in the penalty area, but Toril could not get the shot in.