Villarreal B ends its season with a 2-2 draw against champions Nastic

Villarreal's B team finished up its season today in the Mini Estadi with a spirited 2-2 draw against Nastic Tarragona, who have finished top of Segunda B Group 3 and now makes its way to the playoffs. (Real Oviedo, Cadiz, and either Huesta or Athletic Club B are the other three group winners).

Our team was: Bañuz; Carlos Julio, Tano, Javi Ramírez, Fran García; Leo Suárez (Manu Viana, m. 68), Anton Shvets (Pepe Palau, m. 46), Marc Mateu, Pablo González (Cubillas, m. 80); Aleix y Fran Sol.

Villarreal took an early lead with an 'olimpico'--that's scoring directly from the corner kick, which Marc Mateu did in the first minute (supposedly Uruguay scored this way in an early Olympic match, hence the name, though no one really seems to know when).    Nastic equalized with a goal from Ferran Giner midway through the first half.

With nothing really to play for except enjoyment, both teams played some attractive football, and Villarreal took the lead again around the hour mark with a Pablo Gonzalez goal.  However, with just under 10 minutes to go left back Fran García received a second yellow, and Villarreal were now a man down.

The filial tried to keep the visitors at bay, but with practically the last play of the match veteran striker Gorka Azkorra powered the ball past Bañuz to earn the draw.

In a sense, this match indicated Villarreal's strengths as well as weaknesses--we scored as many goals as Nastic this season (51 in 38 matches, tops in the group) but gave up 45 goals, ranking 14th of 20 teams.  We will finish either 10th or 11th in the final table.

Fran Sol finishes with 11 goals to lead the side; Nahuel and David Cubillas each added 6.

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