This Sunday, Málaga CF visited the dean of Spanish football, RC Recreativo de Huelva, on Primera Federación matchday 7. The match took place at the Nuevo Colombino in front of a magnificent crowd (14,758 spectators) where more than a thousand Malaguistas didn’t stop cheering for their team throughout play.
The Malaguistas, wearing green and yellow on this occasion, tried to set the pace of the match in the first 45 minutes. The MCF starting line-up consisted of Herrero in goal (captain), Jokin, Einar, Nelson, Dani Sánchez; Manu Molina, Sangalli, Dani Lorenzo, Larrubia, Kevin and Roberto, a line-up selected by Sergio Pellicer who watched the match from the bench as he continues his recovery (he underwent surgery last Wednesday).
His pupils generated several dangerous chances but were unable to pierce the opponent's goal in the first 45'. Roberto, Kevin and Larrubia were very active around the rival area, bolstered by a midfield determined to maintain possession in the wide area. Despite the fluidity of the game and the Blue and Whites’ options, as well as the locals, the result at half-time was 0-0.
The second half became complicated early on for the Malaguistas. Former Blue and White player, Caye Quintana put his team ahead by resolving a one-on-one against Herrero (1-0, 48').
Kevin came close to going level in the 58th minute. The winger launched a powerful and well-placed shot with a direct free kick (about 10 metres from the front) that missed the target.
Subsequently, Sangalli hit the post in minute 60. The midfielder opened a gap between the middle of the defence and managed to connect a powerful shot that made the opposing goal tremble. The ball once again hit the bar that Kevin’s attempt also missed out on by millimetres.
An insistent Málaga knocked on the door of Recre again. In the 67th minute, Einar's header was cleared by the fingertips of local goalkeeper Rubén Gálvez. The subsequent corner ended in a shot by Jokin that went wide.
In minute 71, MCF once again flirted with an equaliser. Kevin sent a shot to the corner of the small area and, without finding a finisher, turned into an attempt that was very close to entering at the far post.
However, an equaliser wasn’t far away. Dioni scored a great goal; He propelled a low ball, with sweetness and precision on the turn, after an extraordinary assist from Roberto in the rival area (1-1, 74').
The Blue and Whites went for more. Roberto covered the entire left wing, from his own field, in a huge run in a one-man counter. With just enough strength due to the immense effort, he managed a powerful finish, but his attempt hit the side of the net to the applause of the Malaguista fans who witnessed it all from a few metres away (77').
Then, Alfonso Herrero saved a clear chance from Iago Díaz with his leg. From there until the final whistle, Málaga CF kept searching for the goal. In fact, the last chance of the match was a header from Juanpe that came off the crossbar after a corner taken by Kevin from the left.
With this point in Huelva, Pellicer's team reaches 16 points to sit in second place in Primera Federación Group 2. The next match is on Thursday the 12th at 12:00 against UD Melilla in La Rosaleda.
Photo: RC Recreativo de Huelva
