Villarreal B and Real Madrid Castilla draw in an electric clash in which Etta Eyong scored again for the Mini Submarine
Villarreal B and Real Madrid Castilla put on a great show at the Mini Estadi in an intense, back-and-forth encounter that ended in a 1-1 draw. Miguel Álvarez’s side once again gave a lesson in competitiveness and levelled the tie with another goal from Cameroonian striker Etta Eyong, who came within millimetres of scoring a second on the stroke of full-time.
With the draw, the Mini Submarine have now drawn for the third consecutive time in the 24/25 season, ahead of next weekend’s game against Antequera CF (Saturday 14th, 5:30pm CEST, Estadio El Maulí).
The game started very evenly and with both teams being present in the area around the opposition’s penalty area. However, neither side managed to trouble the opposing goalkeepers. There was no clear dominator, as the parity in the game was such that both Villarreal and Real Madrid alternately took the initiative.
After a first period of some tentative play, the chances came. In the 25th minute, the first scare for the Mini Submarine came after a pass from Cristo towards goalkeeper Rubén Gómez that fell just short and was almost gathered by the opposing striker. In the next move, Real Madrid Castilla centre-back Asencio’s shot from a corner went just wide of the post.
Within three minutes Villarreal answered back. Thiago Ojeda stole the ball in the opposition half, Pau Cabanes broke forward and Rodrigo Alonso’s shot from the edge of the area went just wide. After the first half hour of the game Etta Eyong tried to power a shot from Joseda’s cross from the right flank, but the visitors’ goalkeeper saved the shot.
Villarreal B grew in strength in the second half and had two chances in quick succession in the opening stages of the second half, a Joseda cross-shot deflected behind for a corner by Fran González and an Espigares header over the crossbar. Raúl González’s side did not shy away from the Yellows’ onslaught and twice forced Rubén Gómez into action after a header inside the area from Gonzalo and a dangerous strike from Campos. In addition, the referee disallowed a goal for the Madrid club for a foul inside the Villarreal area.
The script of the game was unchanged from the first half, but it was Real Madrid Castilla who took the lead after Víctor Muñoz drove a controlled and direct shot into the top corner of the net. Impossible this time for Rubén Gómez.
Twenty minutes remained and it was time to fight back. Real Madrid continued to be just as competitive, but Villarreal did not give up and managed to score the equaliser in the 81st minute. Víctor Moreno, who entered the game in the second half, got to the byline and Etta Eyong scored his second goal in two games.
Villarreal B had not yet said their last word and a minute later, Facu Viveros came close to scoring the winner with his first touch of the game. The Cameroon striker did the same in stoppage time in a goal that would have been a carbon copy of the equaliser, but he missed the ball with his toe by mere millimetres.
After a great effort from Miguel Álvarez’s side throughout the 90 minutes and another fine save from Gómez, also in extra time, Villarreal picked up their third point of the season after three draws in the first three rounds of Primera RFEF fixtures.
