Villarreal B beat FC Cartagena after fighting back in added time
Impressive victory for the Mini Submarine. Villarreal B defeated FC Cartagena 5-2 in a crazy game with a thrilling finish. The Yellows came from behind in stoppage time, when three goals turned a fantastic comeback from Miguel Álvarez’s side into a fantastic win. The goals came from Álex Millán, Dela, Pacheco, Álex Forés and Iosifov.
There was plenty of excitement in the opening stages of a match that surprised the Estadio de la Cerámica crowd with three goals before the half-hour mark. Villarreal B took the lead with a goal from Álex Millán, who took advantage of a fantastic assist from Fer Niño on the left flank. Shortly before, Miguel Álvarez’s side had had an Alberto del Moral goal disallowed by VAR.
If Villarreal B started strongly, Cartagena still had a lot to say. In the 21st minute, the visitors levelled the score with a goal from Borja Valle, who finished a good cross from the left flank. And they turned the score around through Kiko Olivas just before the half-hour mark. The former Yellows defender sent home a loose ball in the box from a corner kick.
Shortly before half-time, Del Moral hit the crossbar with a shot from the edge of the area. The midfielder fired a powerful shot after receiving a short pass from Millán in a very quick transition from Miguel Álvarez’s team. The first half ended 1-2.
Miguel Álvarez’s team started the second half with a lot of hunger. In the 55th minute, Pablo Iñiguez could have levelled the score with a fantastic header that was saved by Aarón from a corner. The Mini Submarine were also trying to score with quick transitions. Carreira and Migue unsuccessfully finished a couple of shots from out wide.
In the 70th minute, Diego Collado was awarded a clear penalty which the referee had no hesitation in pointing out. The captain, Dela, picked up the ball and took charge of the penalty. An impeccable shot into the centre of the goal.
Shortly afterwards, Cartagena were reduced to ten men when Pablo Vázquez was sent off for a second yellow card for a strong tackle from behind on Collado, which turned the game on its head.
There was still time to turn the game around and the Mini Submarine kept trying hard. In added time, madness broke out at the Estadio de la Cerámica. In the 94th minute Pacheco scored, in the 95th minute Álex Forés did too and before the final whistle Iosifov converted a penalty to score the fifth and put the finishing touch to a great game.
Lineups
Villarreal B: Iker Álvarez; M.A. Leal (D. Collado m. 63), Dela, P. Iñiguez, Tasende; S. Carreira, Carlo, A. Del Moral, S. Lozano (Pacheco, m. 88); Fer Niño (Iosifov, m. 63), Á. Millán (Á. Forés, m. 88).
FC Cartagena: Aarón; I. Calero, K. Olivas, Datkovic, Iván Martos (Pablo V., m. 63); Musto, Darío (Jansson, m. 63), Pepe (Mikel Rico, m. 63), De Blasis (Farru, m. 79), Ureña (Feuillassier, m. 69); Borja Valle A.
Goals: 1-0. Min. 9: Á. Millán. 1-1. Min. 21: Borja Valle. 1-2. Min. 29: K. Olivas. 2-2. Min. 73: Dela. 3-2. Min. 90+3: Pacheco. 4-2. Min. 90+5: Á. Forés. 5-2. Min. 90+9: Iosifov
Referee: Moreno Aragón (Comité Madrileño). Booked: M. A. Leal, S. Lozano (Villarreal B); Pepe (FC Cartagena). Sent off: Pablo V. (m.76), Musto (m.97) (FC Cartagena):
Matchday information: Match between Villarreal B and FC Cartagena, corresponding to Gameweek 32 of the 2022/23 LaLiga SmartBank season, at the Estadio de la Cerámica. Attendance: 1,823.
