CD THADER – 2 PATERNA CF – 0
Before the start of play in this Community League match, Thader was in sixth place, while the visitors Paterna were only one place from the bottom. Since the Moi Gómez stadium is still in the reclassification period, this match was played inside the Formentera Del Segura stadium. Thader hadn’t played since the cup match at San Fulgencio, about 10 days ago, and was looking forward to getting started.
Several experienced players were still missing, including veteran Lloyd, who was on honeymoon, and Thader coach Raúl Mora was forced to include several youth team players in his squad.
The first yellow card of the game came in the 11th minute, after an ugly challenge on Fran, just outside the area. Although the resulting free kick was deflected for a corner, Juan was called into action, forcing Paterna goalkeeper Carlos to make a good maneuver to prevent the goal.
Just 3 minutes later, Paterna received another yellow card for an overly enthusiastic challenge, but once again the free kick came to nothing. In fact, just in the 19th minute, the visitors had already accumulated 3 warnings, giving notice of their planned game plan.
Peruvian Pepelu had his well-taken free kick saved on the line in the 31st minute, when Thader took the game by the neck. When Paterna received his fourth warning in the 38th minute, Sergio Martínez headed a delicious free kick wide. But, in the 42nd minute, he made amends.
An assist from Javi found the youngster a good 35 meters from the goal, but without missing a beat, he fired a beautiful shot that entered the net just under the crossbar. As expected, a frustrated Paterna team suffered a fifth booking in the 44th minute, and then, in first-half stoppage time, Sergio collected a long ball that came out of defense. He coolly rounded Carlos, before shooting laterally into the empty goal from an acute angle.
Berni appeared to knock down an opponent in the penalty area, but to Paterna’s anger, referee León rejected strong appeals in the 51st minute. At the other end, Tremino had a difficult chance to increase the lead, but Carlos bravely smothered his attempt to short distance.
Kone was hit hard in the head by an elbow, but although a free kick was awarded, no further action was taken. Thader’s captain Juan was so incensed by the lack of at least a yellow card, if not a red one, that he found himself in the referee’s notebook for dissent.
Substituting for the injured Sergio in the second half, Presius undertook a labyrinthine run from his own half, before an overworked Carlos saved his shot towards goal.
Fran almost made it 3-0 in the 71st minute, but his close-range shot lacked precision. An X lunge by Pablo on Javi in the 81st minute earned the Paterna defender a second yellow card, followed by an early bath.
Three other Paterna players had also received cautions before the final whistle, bringing the total to 8.
Thader will be next in action on Sunday afternoon in Gandía, when Santa Claus can offer them the same.
Images courtesy of CD Thader