Introduction
SIA Academy played matchday 18 this Sunday at 12pm against Catarroja C.F. at the Vicente Morera Municipal Sports Complex in Silla, suffering a 3-1 defeat. The match was moved to a different venue than usual due to the impact of the DANA storm last October in the town of Catarroja.
Match overview
The game started with great balance between both teams. SIA managed to maintain a solid defensive line in the early stages, but a highly questionable handball penalty awarded against them in the 10th minute began to unsettle the team. Catarroja converted the penalty, which allowed the home team to play with more composure when building their plays. Despite this, SIA did not back down and remained competitive throughout the match. Long balls to Thibault Pio provided the team with some breathing room, but their promising attacking attempts failed to materialize. Elías J., making his debut with the amateur team, along with our Next Gen player Álex Sonne, managed to overcome Catarroja’s constant midfield pressure on most occasions. However, misfortune prevented these positive efforts from being reflected on the scoreboard.
The second half began with the same intensity as the first. Both teams were evenly matched, and SIA’s defense remained well-organized, with Lukian S., an international player for SIA Academy, putting in a stellar performance both offensively by advancing down the flank and defensively with crucial recoveries. Around the 60th minute, SIA started pushing harder for an equalizer, but Catarroja scored their second goal on a counterattack following a rebound inside the box. With the team trailing, Daniel Farkas, Edgar Carranza, and Joaquín B. (also making his debut with the amateur team) were brought on. Their fresh legs gave SIA renewed energy, and the team increased the pressure on Catarroja’s goal. Edgar Carranza made three dangerous runs down the right wing, reaching the byline, but his well-placed crosses into the box failed to find the back of the net. With just over ten minutes left in the match, Catarroja scored a stunning goal after an individual play by Riera, who placed the ball perfectly into the top corner. Football was cruel to SIA, who did not deserve such a harsh outcome. This was evident in the goal scored by Hamza L. in stoppage time after a brilliant team play. The match ended 3-1 in favor of the home side, but SIA took away positive feelings for the upcoming fixtures.
MVP:
The young full-back, Lukian S. was the best player of the match, displaying outstanding control of his zone. His constant forward runs provided the team with an attacking outlet on every play, and he defended his mark with ease. Moreover, he remained mentally strong throughout the game despite the tough blows the team suffered on the scoreboard. He executed a couple of classy plays, skillfully shaking off opponents and making smart decisions when distributing the ball.
