Urkiza opts for the Left Bank derby in favor of Portugalete

The three points of the derby stayed in Florida. Portugalete and Barakaldo saw each other in a decisive duel for promotion, where there is also a lot of honor at stake. It was one of the most anticipated appointments of the season for the two teams from the Left Bank that are active in this Third RFEF. This time it was the pitchers who won the victory thanks to the early goal of Jon Urkiza (1-0). In this way, the Portuguese climbed to second place, equaling Deportivo Alavés B on points, which has two fewer games. Meanwhile, the factory team falls to ninth place and distances itself five points from the play-off positions.

The players had to play under a tremendous waterspout in the first half. The rain did not subside until half-time and evidently influenced the game, despite the fact that the Florida grass weathered the storm well and allowed the ball to circulate relatively normally. Both sets were presented with their respective gala eleven, only without the usual injured or touched. Neither of the two coaches wanted to save anything on such an important date, no matter how much they have the next commitment in just four days. A derby of these characteristics between two clear candidates for promotion deserved it.

The meeting could not have started better for the locals. Portugalete managed to get ahead in the first offensive action of the match. At seven minutes into the game, Dani López was on his back, hitting a good shot at the turn that Tena rejected, but the ball was hunted by Urkiza to push it to the bottom of the net. The famous law of the former was fulfilled with the extreme Baracaldés who last year militated in the factory ranks. The pitcher team continued to be much superior in the first 25 minutes, when Barakaldo experienced his second misfortune: the injury of Pradera, who retired injured crying from the field of play.

Nando Alonso took advantage of that break to give instructions to his people and it seemed that the change of plans worked for them to a certain extent. From that moment the first chances for the Baracaldes arrived. The clearest came as a result of a ball hanging from Obeso that Mayordomo headed looking for Nates inside the area, but Mediavilla made a providential exit to prevent the ball from reaching the boots of Barakaldo’s top scorer, who would have stayed behind. empty door. On the other hand, as soon as the second half started, Portugalete was able to increase their income in a good counterattack that cut off a brilliant defensive action Obeso when Urkiza was already licking his lips facing Tena.

Barakaldo tightens at the end

It would not be the only opportunity the vases would have to widen their distance. In the 70th minute, Morcillo smashed the ball against the crossbar with a powerful shot from the edge of the area just off a corner. The match was frantic until the final whistle was fired. Barakaldo did not throw in the towel at any time and tried to equalize the contest constantly in the last quarter of an hour of shock.

In that final stretch, he had up to three very clear internedings to sign the tables, but there were several centers that did not finish and as many shots repelled by the rear and Mediavilla. Finally, the Portugalete tied the three points being superior in the first half and holding the attacks in the second.