Villarreal B lose the first leg of the first round of the play-offs at the Mini Estadi (0-2)
Villarreal B lost against UD Melilla in the first-leg of the first round of the play-offs for promotion to Segunda División (0-2). The Mini Submarine, who had a numerical disadvantage for half an hour, were harshly punished in a tight game, in which the away side were more clinical in the final third. Menudo scored both of their goals, the first of them from the penalty spot.
There was not much difference between the two sides, and the respect they had for each other was clear from the start of the came. Villarreal B tried to take control of the ball and bring some fluidity to the game, while the away side from early on showed signs of their solidity. They protected their back line and tried to attack on the counter.
In the 25th minute, Villarreal could have opened the scoring. A nice piece of play between Simón Moreno and Mario González ended with the latter shooting off target. A quarter of an hour later, it was Moreno, who, after a great run down the right, got into the area, and his ball could not quite meet González, who was running in on goal. Melilla had a few deflected shots during the first half.
In the second half, the roles changed and UD Melilla went onto the pitch with a steely determination. Two minutes after the break, the visitors headed onto the bar. Villarreal fired back quickly, with an Enric Franquesa effort and a González cross-shot, but neither were on target.
In the 61st minute, the match changed completely. The referee gave a penalty to the away side and showed Carlos Blanco his second yellow card for handball. Menudo put Melilla ahead from the penalty spot and the Mini Submarine had to face the rest of the game a man down.
Miguel Álvarez’s side continued to push forward and try and draw level, but were unable to do so. In the 90th minute, Menudo made the most of a defensive error to score his side’s second.
The Mini Submarine will travel to Melilla next weekend (time TBC), looking for a comeback.
Lineups:
Villarreal B: Joan; Andrei, Roger Riera, Carlos Blanco, Quintillà; Iván Martín (Chuca, min. 60), Ramón, Morlanes, Franquesa (Pepe Castaño, min. 64); Mario, Simón (Rubén Mesa, min. 73).
UD Melilla: Dani Barrio; Pepe, Richi, Soufianne, Jilmar; Ruano, Alfonso, Otegui (Queijeiro, min. 73), Héber (Moha Traoré, min. 68); Menudo, Óscar García (Igor Martínez, min. 84).
Goals: 0-1. Min. 63: Menudo (p). 0-2. Min. 90: Menudo.
Referee: Collado López. Booked: Morlanes (Villarreal B); Jilmar (Melilla). Sent off: Carlos Blanco (Villarreal, min. 62).
Matchday information: Match corresponding to the first leg of the first round of the promotion play-offs to Segunda División at the Mini Estadi at the Ciudad Deportiva (Villarreal CF Training Ground), in front of an attendance of 3,800.
