After a complicated group phase for both the U19 team and the players that made up the U15 team, the single-game matches were played, where only the winner remained alive in the Mediterranean International Cup (MIC Tournament) competition.
On the morning of April 7, the Youth team played the round of 16 at the Estadi Municipal Lloret de Mar against Caldes CF, a Catalan team with a lot of experience in this competition and with players of high quality and experienced.
The match started with a lot of energy and rhythm, especially in the B1 Soccer Academy attack on the Caldes goal. It did not take long for the first dangerous chances to arrive, when the B1 striker, Xavello managed to connect a couple of quick actions ending in shots that were saved by the goalkeeper of the Catalan team.
Although finally and after the insistence of the B1 team, Guerrero in an individual play managed to put the 1-0 on the scoreboard. Minutes later and just before the end of the first half, a loss in the Caldes field led to a counterattack that the striker of the Catalan team was able to solve very well to put the tie on the scoreboard.
The second half of the match started with the same dynamic. The B1 team turned to attack, managing to generate danger and forcing the rival goalkeeper to intervene on many occasions. Xavello, Guerrero, and Franco again had the chance to change the score, but it was Hollin, who finally was able to connect a good shot from outside the area to score the second goal for B1.
And just at this moment would come the determining factor, just after getting the goal that put us ahead on the scoreboard, we received the expulsion of our central, leaving the team with a player less for almost the entire second half.
This caused Caldes to launch an attack. From this moment on, the game broke down, and both teams stretched the pressure lines, generating a lot of space for counterattacks. And precisely in one of these counterattacks, the Caldes team managed to score the tying goal that would decide the winner in the penalty shootout.
For the penalty kicks from 10 meters, it had to go to sudden death, as the initial 5 players who took the penalty kick scored the goal. And it was in that moment of pressure when Hollin shot trying to adjust to the right post of the rival goalkeeper, but he was able to guess the direction and save the penalty, leaving B1 out of the next round.
Competing until the last moment
On the other hand, our Infantil team faced, also in the round of 16, at the Vilatenim Stadium in Figueres, Juventus of Mataró in a very nice match where both teams disputed all the balls and fought until the final whistle of the referee to get the victory.
Sergio Alfaro and Jaume Solis‘ team was very determined to get the victory and thus move to the quarterfinals. And although in the early stages of the match both Marcel, Lluis, and Nacho had chances to overtake B1 on the scoreboard, it was a penalty against who opened the scoring in favor of the Maresme team.
Despite the stretching of the goalkeeper Eidan, who guessed perfectly the side of the shot did not connect with the ball. And six minutes later Juventus scored their second goal. But if there was one thing that characterized the B1 team, it was the grit and competitiveness of each and every one of the players.
Just before the break, and after a free kick close to the box, Marcel managed to score B1’s first goal of the match, making the score 2-1.
In the first 20 seconds after the restart of the match, Marcel again generated danger on a counter, but the post prevented the equalizer. However, in the next play, and after another free kick, Nacho finished the ball into the net making the score 2-2.
With the tie, both teams turned to attack leaving the goalkeepers more unprotected, and although both teams were able to generate many chances in the opposing goals, the success of the striker of the Catalan team put 2 more goals on the scoreboard, leaving the final result of 2 to 4 in favor of Juventus.
“We say goodbye to an incredible tournament. We are very proud of the group we have formed, of the human and sporting quality of all the players and also of the winning character they have shown in every game. It has been a pleasure to train and enjoy them. An unforgettable experience that we hope to repeat in the MIC24.“