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Villarreal B and Córdoba split the honors



Here is a thread for comment--sorry I'm getting to it so late. There are streams from the usual sources. I'll post lineup as soon as I have it.

Update: Villarreal B and Cordoba shared two goals tonight, with Lucas Porcar instrumental in both. The Mini-Submarine goal came from a Porcar shot-cum-cross that was deflected into the net by a Cordoba defender; shortly after the second half began Porcar made a poor back pass that was intercepted and Borja Garcia fired a shot home to tie it up.

I would say Villarreal B had the better of the play in the first 15-20 minutes of each half, with Cordoba finishing stronger, but a point apiece was a fair result. The visitors could have taken all three points but for a key Mariño stop with a couple of minutes left, but the B-boys had chances too.

I was very impressed with Marino's positioning, reflexes (as always) and confidence. He couldn't be blamed for their goal, but he does need to work on his kicking which especially in the second half often gave the ball right back to Cordoba.

Porcar was excellent, but Velasquez substituted him with about 30 minutes to go--it really seemed his mistake for their goal had upset him. Besides, Moi Gomez got to come on, and he looks very talented. He has that ability to operate well in space as well as create space, and he had a real sense of purpose out there.

Toribio was good, Manu Trigueros was excellent at creating chances but not at finishing them. Joselu looked rusty to me. The back four--well, Tono's inexperience and Kiko's ineptitude showed at times, I thought Lejeune was the best of them and Pere did OK. Because of Jaume Costa being called up again (he watched from the stands tonight) and Truyols being suspended we didn't have any defenders on the bench!

Overall it was great that the B team could hang with Cordoba (who are in the promotion places) but our failure to finish off a couple of good chances in the first half cost us. Toward the end our youth and inexperience almost cost us, as the opposition was much better at winning fouls and putting us under pressure--which we kept trying to play out from and not always succeeding. But there was a lot to like, too.

With this result, we are now provisionally 15th, tied with Xerez and a point ahead of Guadalajara. The first host the paprika-men (Real Murcia) tomorrow, the second are away to Herculés. As for Cordoba, they are now fourth, a point behind Valladolid and a point ahead of Almeria. Those two clubs play each other on Sunday.

Endavant!