Celta came out alive from the Narcís Sala after a night that turned into a real test of endurance. Claudio Giráldez’s men, aware of the difficulties involved in visiting a Sant Andreu side that was playing with confidence despite its lowly status, ended up suffering more than expected before sealing their passage from the penalty spot in a seemingly endless shootout that was only resolved when Sergi Serrano hit the crossbar with the fourteenth kick.
The Vigo side was overwhelmed from the start by the home side’s energy and had a scare right at the start, but little by little they imposed their game plan and accumulated chances without luck. Hugo Álvarez hit the crossbar, and in the second half the siege intensified, with a shot from Ferran Jutglà hitting the post. Not even the late introduction of Iago Aspas and Borja Iglesias could prevent extra time against the Catalan side.
Extra time added drama to the tie as a strike from Alexis García ignited the Narcís Sala, but relief for the visitors came immediately with Borja Iglesias’ reply, who latched onto a through ball to keep his side alive. It was the only clear chance in extra time, enough to take the game to a penalty shootout in which the Sky Blues showed composure and total accuracy.
In the end, Celta escaped the Catalan labyrinth with more suffering than desired, but with their minds already set on the next game, which will take place at the Santiago Bernabéu this Sunday at 9:00 p.m. against Real Madrid.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
1 (6) – Sant Andreu: Raúl García; Santiago (Viña, min. 71), Gomez, Blanco, Mendez (Marcet, min. 91; Carbonell, Alberto García, Darbra (Torices, min. 72); Serrano, Valles (Alexis García, min. 59), Sergi García (Naranjo, min. 59).
1 (7) – Celta: Iván Villar; Óscar Mingueza, Joseph Aidoo (Yoel Lago, min. 11), Carlos Domínguez, Mihailo Ristic (Sergio Carreira, min. 46); Hugo Álvarez, Fran Beltrán, Hugo Sotelo (Borja Iglesias, min. 75); Franco Cervi (Pablo Durán, min. 63), Ferran Jutglà (Ángel Arcos, min. 97), Williot Swedberg (Iago Aspas, min. 75)
Goals: 1-0: Alexis García, min. 103. 1-1: Borja Iglesias, min. 105.
Referee: Mateo Busquets (Balearic Committee). He gave yellow cards to Carlos Blanco (min. 31), Alberto García (min. 31), Pablo Santiago (min. 40), Raúl García (min. 77), and Lucas Viña (min. 93) for Sant Andreu, and to Carlos Domínguez (min. 41) and Yoel Lago (min. 93) for Celta. He ended up sending off Carlos Dominguez (min. 112) for a second yellow card.
