EXCITING MATCH BETWEEN VILLARREAL CF AND SIA BENIGÀNIM
The Villarreal CF reserve team faced UD SIA Benigànim in Phase II of the promotion to the Second Division RFEF. Two of the best U23 teams in the Valencian Community faced each other last Saturday at the Municipal de Benigànim.
UD SIA Benigànim, managed by the Soccer Inter-Action International Academy (SIA Academy), hosted Villarreal CF ‘C’, a subsidiary of the team that plays in the Spanish First Division.
What does the Spanish third division league 2021 look like?
The 2020/2021 season of the Spanish Third Division, which next season will be called 3rd RFEF, has the particularity of being divided into two Phases. Due to the expansion of the COVID-19 and its respective health containment protocols, the Royal Spanish Federation restructured this competition into two Phases with the aim of preventing possible postponed matches. These phases are divided into the fight for Permanence and the fight for Promotion, where UD SIA Benigànim and Villarreal ‘C’ are enrolled.
Phase I has been a great success for the team managed by SIA Academy, as the pupils of Fernando Gómez Colomer -a Valencia CF legend- put in a great performance and qualified for the Promotion Phase in a more than deserved fifth position. This qualification has brought with it the reward of playing in Phase II of the Promotion Phase to the RFEF Second Division, that is, the former Second Division B – the third most important category of football in Spain.
Chronicle of SIA Academy third division football match
Villarreal ‘C’ CF have been another of the teams that have made the biggest impression this season. Both teams share the particularity of having their entire squad made up of U23 players and an attractive style of play for the public where the ball is the protagonist.
That is why it was a beautiful and vibrant match that ended up being won by the Castellón side. However, the final score of zero goals to two could have been very different if Castilla had scored the goal that he was just a few centimetres away from scoring. A powerful long-range shot from the Ganxut right-back crashed against the crossbar in the 18th minute when the home crowd were already chanting for a goal.
From this occasion, Villarreal ‘C’ enjoyed two dangerous chances, converting the goal in the 26th minute. Their striker Iván Ramos made a great run and did not spare the home goalkeeper Enric. With the score at 0-1, UD SIA Benigànim looked for an equaliser, especially through their striker Maikel, scorer of the last goal against Silla CF and very active throughout the first half against Villarreal ‘C’.
However, the visitors’ defence was able to overcome SIA Benigànim’s attacking attempts and the half-time whistle was blown. The second half started with a bad taste in the mouth for Fernando Gómez Colomer’s side. Their captain, Quique Fabra, had to retire injured in the 51st minute. With this injury, UD SIA Benigànim’s midfield was weakened, as Fabra’s absence was added to those of Kevin, Yeray, Vallés and Peiró, important pieces in the ganxut scheme.
Despite this, the home side never lost their nerve and competed from strength to strength against a Villarreal ‘C’ side who put the game to bed in the closing stages of the game. Once again it was Iván Ramos who scored the Submarino Amarillo’s goal, beating Enric with a low shot that hit the top of the post.
With the three points in the bag for Villarreal ‘C’, the Castellón side are now in a privileged position for the play-offs for the final promotion spot. Next matchday they will host CD Olímpic de Xàtiva at home, where a win would practically certify them as a play-off team.
Next match Ascension Phase 3 division
For their part, UD SIA Benigànim travel to the El Perdiguer de Aldaia pitch to face Recambios Colón, a team coached by Langa, who is characterised by a physical and direct game. For this match, several members of the Soccer Inter-Action International Academy are expected to be included in the squad as a reward for their good work in the UD SIA Benigànim youth team and their progression in the SIA Annual High Performance Programme, located in Enguera, Valencia (Spain).
