The Vigo players started the match with strength and dynamism. Only four minutes had passed on the clock when Coudet’s team had a great play, finished by Cervi with a powerful shot that went over the crossbar by very little. There were no new chances for RC Celta and Cadiz took advantage of this to gain ground.
The rival team had a handful of dangerous approaches, but it was when Celta was more superior when they managed to beat the sky blue goal. Choco Lozano headed a great cross from the left flank against which Dituro could do little or nothing.
When Coudet’s men were trying to recover from the setback, Lozano fell in the Oliva area and the referee awarded a penalty. Fortune was not on RC Celta’s side. Dituro saved the penalty kick, but Espino beat the Celtic defense to score the second goal. The half-time break came with the Vigo team turned in attack and with a great save by Ledesma that prevented the captain Hugo Mallo to cut the gap on the scoreboard.
Coudet moved the bench at halftime and brought on Nolito, Galhardo and Brais Méndez to replace Fontán, Cervi and Denis Suárez. RC Celta recovered sensations and began to grow against a conservative and closed back Cadiz. The effort and work of the sky blues ended up finding a prize in the boots of Santi Mina. The Galician picked up Ledesma’s rejection of a close range shot by Aspas and, with forcefulness, sent the ball to the back of the rival goal. It was the 64th minute.
The goal gave wings to the Galician team. Santi Mina finished off everything he could, even with his knee. The team gave their all, with a tremendous intensity in attack, continuously harassing Cádiz, who resisted as best they could. Already in stoppage time, Iago Aspas and Murillo both sent headers against the crossbar. The ball definitely did not want to go in.
TECHNICAL SHEET
1 – RC CELTA: Dituro, Hugo Mallo, Murillo, Fontán (Nolito, min.46), Galán, Tapia, Solari, Denis Suárez (Brais Méndez, min.46), Cervi (Galhardo, min.46), Iago Aspas, Santi Mina.
2 – CÁDIZ CF: Ledesma, Iza, Chust, Haroyan, Espino, Alarcón, Fali (Jonsson, min.72), Salvi, Bastida (Álex, min.72), ‘Choco’ Lozano (Arzamendia, min.55), Sobrino (Osmajic, min.72).
Goals: Lozano (0-1, min.37), Espino (0-2, min.43), Santi Mina (1-2, min.64).
Referee: Díaz de Mera, from the Castilian-La Mancha committee. Yellow cards for Galhardo, Tapia, Brais Méndez (RC Celta); Rubén Sobrino, Haroyan, Alarcón (Cádiz CF).
Field: Abanca Balaídos (6,750 spectators).
Remarks: before the match, a tribute was paid to Galicians Susana Rodríguez (gold medal in Paralympic triathlon), Celso Comesaña (Susana Rodríguez’s guide) and Agustín Alejos (Paralympic diploma in adapted basketball). Susana Rodríguez was in charge of the kick-off.
