It would be an attractive match, there was no doubt about it. Expectations were met with the intense duel between Córdoba and Castellón ending in a draw after a poor first half for the green and white team and a second half that served as a comeback. The local victory was even closer than that of the visitors. The winning streak at El Arcángel is interrupted, but Córdoba maintains its unbeaten home run in the Second Division thanks to the bench that revolutionized the game, where Theo Zidane and Adilson stood out.
Iván Ania has dispelled doubts about his starting XI. Marvel regained possession in place of Martínez (Mati is injured). Kuki Zalazar will occupy the midfield area, escorted by Ander Yoldi on the left and Carracedo on the right. Plus, trust again Carlos Isaac for right back instead of Albarrán. Not the best choice for a poor first half that had to be corrected by halftime changes. The intensity was going to be frenetic from the first minute and the demand was going to be maximum. A difficult opponent to defend.
Castellón jumped intensely from the first minute. Two minutes later, he got the first clear finish. Van den Belt found himself alone against Almería goalkeeper Carlos Marín, who made himself big to prevent the first goal. Córdoba responded with a good attack with Kuki Zalazar trying his luck with a cross towards the left wing, but Ander Yoldi did not arrive. The action was nevertheless invalidated due to offside. Castellón responded that he was testing Carlos Marín again and again. In just six minutes, the intensity that the match promised was already visible.
However, Córdoba once again fell prey to their own mistakes and tipped the scales. Marvel committed a penalty for an almost unintentional handball that the referee flagged nine minutes into the match. Carlos Marín saved (again), but Suero grabbed the rebound to give the visitors the lead (1-0, minute 9). Once again, the Cordobas had to row against the tide. This undermined the green and white team and Castellón wanted more. Raúl Sánchez had another great chance crossing the green and white zone, but his shot went high.
After the first quarter of an hour, Córdoba had a sequence in which they took control of the ball, they managed some finishes, but no chances. Dick Schreuder’s surface did its job, a well-executed counterattack which ended with a high strike from Cala. Córdoba also attempted a free kick with a direct error bounced by Kuki Zalazar near the front who sent it wide. By group too. A good serve from Córdoba which allowed Carlos Isaac to enter the backline, but the Castellón defense cleared his pass in the area.
More bad news arrived for Córdoba in the final stretch of the first half. Carlos Isaac left injured and went very angry into the locker room tunnel and Carlos Albarrán came on and defended the right wing until the final whistle. Córdoba was imprecise in the game and the Orellut team took advantage of an error in a pass from Alex Sala to Isma Ruiz to score the second goal thanks to Calatrava (0-2, minutes 45). A gloomy panorama presented itself for the second half. A more than complicated return to school, but not impossible.
Magical changes
The second half started with better color for the green and white team. Iván Ania moved the bench at halftime to bring on Theo Zidane and Adilsonwho reappeared after more than a month of absence from the field due to his injury. It worked the first time. The Frenchman scored his first goal with the Blanquiverde after recovering the rebound of Casas’ shot, who tried to push it into the center of the Albarrán (1-2, minutes 47). Córdoba grew in search of the second goal to alleviate the poor first half of the green and white team of El Arcángel.
Córdoba pushed, which was much more comfortable than its rival. Théo Zidane stood out, with a magnificent pass towards Casas which he failed to finish. Iván Ania’s team was on the edge of second base. And I deserve it. He makes a great counter-attack that Carracedo finishes alone on the right wing, but his shot hits the post. The changes had an impact on the green and white team, who were able to keep Castellón, now a victim, at bay in the second half.
And Córdoba won the prize thanks to Antonio Casas’ goal (2-2, minutes 76). A comeback to bring the scoreboard to a draw. Deserved by the green and white team who wanted more. Iván Ania’s team had several finishes to score the third, but it did not arrive. Castellón was completely eliminated. Iván Ania moved the bench even more with the entries of Jude Soonsup-Bell and Xavi Sintes. Isma Ruiz left although it was a misunderstanding. The coach understood that he had requested the change, but the Granada native wanted to continue.
Córdoba, almost forced to maintain the tie, approached the goal, but without clear finishes. Ander Yoldi tried his luck with a header well captured by the Castellón goalkeeper. A distribution of points that tastes like victory, with two completely different games. The Archangel did once again talismanfacing one of the best teams to have crossed the green and white stronghold this season. However, Córdoba had the ability to react to continue scoring.
