On the night in which Florentino Pérez took a mass bath in the packed Alfredo Di Stéfano stands, Castilla put the play-off semi-final tie in their favor for promotion to the silver category. With a Sabadell side, more busy with defensive tasks than creative work, which ended up paying for its lack of ambition and succumbing to the quality and drive of the young team led by López de Lerma. A furious Pol Fortuny opened the scoring again, which Palacios sealed with a great goal from outside the area.
First half without goals
Castilla jumped, pushed by the encouragement of a dedicated Di Stéfano who showed his best side of the season, practically filling the stands. López de Lerma’s men, after a few minutes of uncertainty, took control of the intention of combinative play, to reach the goal of a Fuoli who was key for the Harlequinados to keep a clean sheet in the first half. First Jacobo, then Lamini and later Palacios were the victims of the interventions of the Catalan team’s goalkeeper. One more week Castilla arrived and finished the game, but the gunpowder seemed to be wet.
Pol and Palacios give advantage
After the break, which both teams were grateful for due to the stifling heat, Castilla returned to the fray to try to get an advantage that would give them more life ahead of the final clash that will be held at the Nova Creu Alta next Friday. Sabadell did not reveal itself either, the goalless draw seemed to be a good result and their effort was to maintain defensive attention and cut off the last pass from the talented castillistas. López de Lerma adjusted the attack, bringing on Rachad and Leiva, the latter starring in a great shot from outside the area that Fuoli sent again for a corner kick with twenty minutes remaining. But Castilla’s push was rewarded with Pol Fortuny’s goal a minute later, finishing off the loose ball left by the Sabadell goalkeeper to save Rachad’s shot. Of course, Aguado’s previous pass in his control of the area to assist Rachad is the key to the play. Castilla took advantage of the inertia and ended up scoring the second goal a few minutes later thanks to Palacios’ great whip from outside the area. The advantage is for the Madridistas who will have to certify it next Friday in Catalan lands.
TECHNICAL SHEET:
Castilla (1-4-4-2): Fran González; David Jiménez, Joan Martínez, Lamini, Diego Aguado; Pol Fortuny, Cestero, Thiago; Alexis Ciria (64′ Leiva), Jacobo Ortega (64′ Rachad), Palacios © (83′ Yáñez).
Coach: Julián López de Lerma
Sabadell (1-4-5-1): Fuoli; Carlos Alemán, Kaiser ©, Bonaldo, Genar Fornés (83′ Escudero); David Astals (77′ Eneko), Urri, López-Pinto (60′ Joel Priego), Quadri, Ton Ripoll (77′ Xavi Moreno); Coscia (60′ Godoy).
Coach: Ferran Costa
Goals: 1-0 (71′): Pol Fortuny; 2-0 (79′): Palacios;
Referee: Olatz Rivera Olmedo (CPVasco). Yellow carded Genar Fornés (20′), Ciria (47′), Urri (84′)
Stadium: Alfredo Di Stéfano, 4,159 spectators.
