Nacho selected a starting-11 ‘reinforced’ with several players who have already had minutes with the first team. Santos was in goal; Bilal, Andrés Caro, Moussa and Juanlu Lanzat in defence; Christian Delgado and Tamarit the double pivot; and a spectacular attacking quartet with Haitam and Larrubia on the wings, Roberto as playmaker and Loren as striker.
Before the match got underway, as will be the case with all MCF Academy games this week, a minute’s silence was held in memory of Francesc Arnau who recently passed away.
It was one of the aforementioned fantastic four upfront, Haitam, who generated the first major chance of the game. In 13’, he launched a powerful shot from the edge of the area with the ball grazing the right post. The Roberto-Loren duo generated danger towards the end of the first half, and Moussa, who joined the attack in 40’, came close to glory with a header. Larrubia made a timid attempt just before half-time.
In the second half, Málaga went all out for a goal. A hyperactive Haitam’s cross found Loren in the area who narrowly missed the target (47’). Immediately afterwards, the same action was repeated with the same protagonists, but the play was declared offside (51’). Tamarit and Roberto then had two clear opportunities to score the first Blue and White goal.
Larrubia assisted Loren in front of the area, with the Malaguista number ‘9’ outwitting the Green and White keeper (1-0, 56’). Málaga increased their lead a few minutes later. A free kick from Bilial and Roberto, with a header, slammed the ball into the back of the net (2-0, 62’).
Nacho’s team continued to generate opportunities for the third goal. Malaguistas; Oso, Guichard, Ibra and Juanmita joined play in the second half. The icing on the cake of this Blue and White fiesta was the work of the best national youth ‘pichichi’ of the season. In stoppage time, Loren Zúñiga scored his second goal of the match from an Oso pass (3-0, 93’).
At the full-time whistle, the players on the pitch and in the stands at La Rosaleda, along with their families, celebrated the team’s sixth League championship win in Group 4 División de Honor Juvenil. The prize – a place in the Copa de Campeones alongside the best youth teams in the country.
Congratulations, team!
(*) Watch the full match here
