A spirited comeback at home: beating the former leaders and securing a 5-3 victory
A big game for our U-23s at home against C.F. At. Moncadense “B,” a rival that demands competition in every match. We started strong, with a bold start and high tempo, and the reward came quickly: in the 9th minute, Simón Correa (36) opened the scoring after a good offensive play that reflected our initiative.
From then on, we looked for verticality and second plays in transition, but the opponent grew stronger with the ball, adjusted their pressure, and forced us at times to defend closer to the area, especially in continuity actions and second plays. In the 21st minute, Javier Pascual Alfonso (19) equalized for Moncadense, and although the team tried to hold on with order and without breaking apart, before the break the score became 1-2: in the 44th minute, Marc García Aloy (22) scored for the visitors. Despite the result, the group remained calm and showed
camaraderie and discipline: constant support among teammates, positive messages, and respect in a tense and competitive stretch of the game.
After the break, the response was that of a mature team. We readjusted our plan with more focus on marking, better occupation of interior spaces, and a clear idea of believing until the end.
The second half began with a step forward in the offensive phase, circulating with more continuity to gain an advantage, and without losing sight of the attackdefense transition so as not to concede easy runs. The equalizer came in the 58th minute with Akiles Durán (8), a reward for persistence, and the momentum did not stop there: in the 68th minute, Zyan Ha Ahu (30) capped off our best moment to make it 3-2. With the game wide open, the team continued to compete for every ball, and in the 78th minute, Benjamín Miller (16) extended the lead to 4-2. Moncadense, true to form, did not give up and pulled one back in the 79th minute through Miguel Tendillo Rodríguez (10), forcing us to manage a demanding final stretch. And that’s when the best of the group came to the fore: a cool head, solidarity in helping each other out, loyalty in their efforts, and discipline to close out the game without rushing.
In the 90th minute, Alexander Saldarriaga (47) sealed the deal with a 5-3 victory, a goal that crowned the collective work and energy of everyone who participated, from the starters to those who came off the bench.
Emotionally, the team went from the blow of 1-2 at halftime to a second half of total conviction; physically, it was a demanding, high-intensity game with a lot of back and forth, but we were able to keep up the pace and grow as the minutes passed. The context makes the victory even more valuable: winning at home against the former leader in a duel of blows and responses.
This 5-3 result is not just a score; it is a demonstration of identity: camaraderie, sportsmanship, loyalty, discipline, and solidarity in a big game. From here on out, we must remain humble, analyze what can be corrected, and continue to grow with the same energy we had today at Roberto Gil.