MARIANO SENDING OFF ADDS TO MISERY
BARCELONA 'B' - 4 FC CARTAGENA - 0
BY STEVE HIBBERD
Cartagena's recent woes continued inside Barcelona's Miniestadi, where the young stars of the worlds best football club gave them a lesson in finishing.
A goal down after just 2 mins, when from the corner of the goal area, Deulofeu cracked in an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net, Cartagena tried hard, but never really got to grips with the superior skills of the home side. It was Deulofeu again on 15 mins, who went close with a shot that just missed the target, then from the very next attack, Kiko shot across the face of the goal, as Barca threatened to swamp the visitors. But credit to Cartagena, for they struck back well through Collantes and Lafuente (twice), when they tested keeper Olazobal with decent shots.
Unfortunately, just before the interval, Barca's young guns got a killer 2nd goal from a Deulofeu free kick, which although paried by keeper Reina, fell invitingly for Muniesa, who had the simple task of tapping the ball home.
Los Albinegros continued to play entertaining football, but failed where it mattered - in the final third of the half. Matters took a turn for the worse on 66 mins, when captain Mariano picked up his 2nd yellow card, and took the walk of shame for god knows how many times!! Down to 10 men, Cartagena were struggling to contain a rampant Barca, and it was only a matter of time before more goals arrived. Goal number 3 was the pick of the bunch, arriving on the stroke of normal time. Brazilian Rafinha beat 5 players, before nonchalantly sliding the ball past an on rushing Reina. Having scored their first after 2 mins from the start, Barca rounded off proceedings by scoring a 4th, 2 mins from the end.
Once again, it was man of the match Deulofeu who made the visitors suffer, picking up a cross from the left, before scoring his 2nd goal of the match. Barca 'B' manager, ex player legend Luis Enrique, must be satisfied at seeing his youthful team securing a double over an out of salts Cartagena team, whilst his opposite number, Carlos Rios, badly needs points on the board - PDQ!!
This defeat leaves Cartagena in 19th place on 20 points, 3 points adrift of the div 2a survival slot, currently occupied by Villarreal 'B'. Next week, Sat 18 Feb, ko 6pm, they host mid table Sabadell, who last visited Cartagonova Stadium some 8 years ago. For regular updates on FC Cartagena, visit www.nosoloefese.es or www.futbolclubcartagena.com.
