23.11.2008 14:15

Lleida beat Barça (1-2)

Sònia de Alba

Barça Sorli Discau have gone down 1-2 against Grup Castillo Lleida as a first half goal by Borregán was cancelled out by Gil’s second-half strikes. More bad news was the substitution of Aitor Egurrola who went off with a knee injury.

Lleida, one of the top goal scoring teams in the OK League but also one of those that has conceded most, played with a solid defence to keep Barça out but remained committed to their attacking philosophy. The visitors created lots of problems for their hosts before Gil scored the winner on a counterattack. Barça didn’t have a good afternoon on two fronts; apart from losing the game, Egurrola had to be substituted with knee problems.

Barça score first

Grup Castillo Lleida were going for goal right from the kick-off, and soon tested out Aitor Egurrola with a set piece play which the Barça keeper saved.

For Barcelona, Teixidó (in the starting five) and David Paéz had early chances but the Lleida defence and visiting keeper Ramon Gascón kept them out.

The first half was entertaining fare, with both sides moving the ball around and looking to score. And it was Barça who got on the scoreboard first when Borregán picked up a loose ball in the Lleida area and rammed it into the net.

The high tempo was maintained and Barça almost added to their lead three minutes later but David Páez couldn’t quite connect with the ball properly.

Grup Castillo Lleida also had chances to pull level before halftime. Egurrola saved from Gil with his legs while Navarro was unable to control a floated pass from Trilla.

Looking to score

Both teams came out after the break looking to make things happen. David Paéz tried to flick the ball up to shoot without any luck, while Gil’s skilful touches also went unrewarded.

Five minutes into the second half Beto Borregán came on for Páez as the Argentine had received a blow to the thigh.

Equaliser

The Barça captain combined well with Carlos López immediately after coming back on court but they failed to add a second, as did Masoliver when through one-on-one with the visiting keeper. Then Lleida equalised in the 8th minute when Gil beat Egurrola in a counterattack.

The visitors were now firing on all cylinders and Tomàs almost put them in the lead but Aitor Egurrola saved well.

Lleida get their second

But Barça’s keeper was unable to keep out Gil on a counterattack just after the Lleida player came back on court after a break. At 1-2 down Barça were looking shaky and were lucky not to concede a third when Eloi Gaspar was through on Egurrola who managed to keep the ball out.

Change of keeper

During a Lleida time-out Quim Paüls changed his keeper after Egurrola reported problems in his left knee. This evening he’ll have a scan to see how serious the injury is, with the results coming out tomorrow Monday.

Octavi Tarrés played for the last 4 minutes and 34 seconds of the game. Barça had numerous chances during that time while Lleida also broke quickly to test Tarrés on a number of occasions.

But Barça failed to convert any of their chances, with Carlos López unable to notch the equaliser with 13 seconds to go, and in the end Lleida went away from the Palau with all three points.