Villarreal beat Cartagena in the first pre-season match with goals from Fer Niño, Gerard and Mario González
Good feelings. Villarreal kicked off pre-season with a win after beating Segunda División side Cartagena in the Pinatar Arena in Murcia. The Yellows goals came from forwards Fer Niño, Gerard Moreno and Mario González. The Cartagena goal was scored by Simón Morneo, who is on loan from the Yellow Submarine.
It was Unai Emery’s debut for Villarreal, as well as for new signings Francis Coquelin, Dani Parejo and Take Kubo. The first two were named in the starting XI, while the Japanese attacker came off the bench at the start of the second half. The Basque manager lined up with two different XIs for both halves.
It was an impressive performance from the Yellows. With seconds on the clock, Villarreal went ahead. Gerard played a through pass and Fer Niño scored calmly across the keeper (1-0).
Cartagena equalised through Simón Moreno. The former Yellows Academy player was really impressive and got the goal his performance deserved (1-1, m.18).
The Yellows went ahead once more with 24 minutes on the clock. Gerard received the ball on the edge of the box, before letting off an unstoppable left-footed effort that went just inside the post. Unstoppable for Mar Martínez (2-1):
Villarreal lined up with a completely different starting XI in the second half. The only goal of the last 45 minutes came from González, who touched the ball over the line after Paco Alcácer fired towards goal a cutback from Alfonso Pedraza, who had got to the touch line.
Next up for Villarreal is another pre-season friendly at the Pinatar Arena in Murcia, this time against CD Tenerife on Tuesday (8pm CEST).
Lineups:
Villarreal CF: Jorgensen; Rubén Peña, Copete, Pau, Alberto Moreno; Chukwueze, Coquelin, Parejo, Ontiveros; Gerard, Fer Niño.
Also played: Íker Álvarez, Migue Leal, Chakla, Jaume Costa, Pedraza, Kubo, Iborra, Moi Gómez, Mario González, Raba, Paco Alcácer, Álex Baena.
FC Cartagena: Marc Martínez; Andújar, Álex Martín, Uri, Forniés; Cayarga, Verza, Lozano, Nacho Gil; Carrasquilla, Simón Moreno.
Also played: Carlos David, Tanque, Edu Martínez; Cordero, Etxeberría, Jara, Elady, Jurado, Manu Viana, Esteve, Quim Araújo, Kleandro, Pedro Neves.
Goals: 1-0. Min. 1: Fer Niño. 1-1. Min. 18: Simón Moreno. 2-1. Min. 24: Gerard. 3-1. Min. 71: Mario González.
Referee: Abril Portillo. Booked: Jaume Costa (Villarreal); Cordero (Cartagena).
Stadium: Pinatar Arena.
