LACK OF DISCIPLINE PROVES COSTLY
FC CARTAGENA - 3 LEVANTE UD - 5
BY STEVE HIBBERD
Having got themselves into a commanding one goal advantage at half time, Cartagena then proceeded to press the self destruct button.Hang your head in shame, Cristian Urbistando Lopez (better known a Txiki). For, when inside the opening minute of the 2nd half, ref Jose Vitienes (who eventually issued a total of 13 yellow and 2 red cards!!) awarded a goal kick to Cartagena, Txiki inexplicably said something untoward, and was promptly shown his 2nd yellow of the match (his 13th of the season - unlucky for everyone connected with FC Cartagena). Up till then, the pint size competitive defender had been playing a blinder, in a side oozing confidence. What happened next was straight out of an x-rated horror movie.
The game had started brightly for the home side, when after only 2 mins Vigil should have scored when through on goal, but instead shot straight at the keeper. Levante took the lead on 5 mins, when a free kick eventually found Robuste on the edge of the area, his shot squeezed under the diving body of keeper Ruben. One thousand or so travelling fans packed behind the non-clock end went loopy, but were soon silenced. Cartegena took the game by the scruff of the neck, and it was only a matter of time before they equalised. On the half hour mark, an in swinging corner was met at the near post by a firm Mariano header - game on!! Only 5 mins had elapsed before they had taken the lead, courtesy of a fine individualist goal by Lafuente. When, in 1st half stoppage time, De Lucas had a goal bound shot well saved, no one in the capacity 15,000 crowd could have foreseen how Los Albinegros could possibly shoot themselves in the foot (4 times!!).
Down to 10 men, Cartagena completely lost their shape, enabling the men from Valencia to fully exploit their opponents weaknesses - they were nearly always first to the ball. Ruben scored the equaliser after 56 mins, when he slammed home a loose ball through a crowd of players. Less than 2 mins later, a free kick was bundled over the line by Robuste, although it took an eagle eyed linesman to signal that a goal had been scored. Goal number 4 (68 mins) was controversial, in as much as it appeared that Guerra had controlled the ball with his arm before striking a fierce drive past Ruben. The humiliation was complete a min later, when a well placed cross found an unmarked Guerra at the far post, converting the simplest of headers. Even though their side were taking a pasting, the Cartagena crowd were magnificent in their encouraging vocal support. Parity of numbers (players, not goals) was restored, when Iborra was shown his 2nd yellow for a handball offence. Substitute Victor had a shot cleared off the line, before Toche placed a curling shot past keeper Reina to reduce the arrears. On 84 mins, Mariano was a lucky man, when the match officials failed to spot his deliberate firm push in the face of a Levente defender. Inside the 6 mins of 2nd half stoppage time awarded, first Etxeito had a shot pushed on the post, then Victor saw his screamer rattle the woodwork, before a De Lucas chip shot just cleared the bar, as Cartagena made a belated fight of it.
FC Cartagena line-up
Ruben, Cygan, Txiki, Mariano, Toche, Lafuente (Longas), Signorino, Falcon (Victor), Etxeita, De Lucas, Vigil (Clavero)
This defeat leaves Cartagena 4 points behind their conquerors, and with only 4 matches (2 home, 2 away) of the season remaining, the battle for promotion to La Liga now involves as many as 7 clubs all vying for 3 available places:
1. Real Sociadad 65 points
2. Levante 65
3. Hércules 61
4. Real Betis 61
5. FC Cartagena 61
6. Elche 60
7. Villarreal 'B' 60
Forthcoming fixture
A trip to mid table Cordoba awaits Cartagena. This vital div 2a match is on Sat 29 May, ko 8 pm. Visit www.futbolclubcartagena.com or www.gotocartago.com for further information.
El FC Cartagena ha comunicado el precio de las entradas para presenciar el choque del próximo domingo ante el Hércules CF. El club ha retirado el"incentivo" del dos por una de las últimas jornadas y además incorpora la entrada a 0 € para el abonado. Esto implica que todos los abonados deberán pasar por las oficinas del Estadio Cartagonova antes del viernes a las 20:00 horas para retirar la entrada, de lo contrario, la localidad se pondrá a la venta en taquilla. El club continuará regalando una botella de vino por entrada y Sportcartagena un poster. Mañana, a partir de las 10:00 horas, saldrá el "papel" a la venta con los siguientes precios:
