FCBARCELONA.CAT

01.05.2010 19:29

Comeback takes valuable points (2-1)

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Barça chalked up another win to take them closer to confirming their 2nd place. Luis Enrique’s team dominated for the 90 minutes and pulled back from a 1st half goal by Borja for Valencia to take the points thanks to goals from Soriano and Montoya.

Barca Atlètic started strongly and Víctor Vàzques and Elvis both hit the woodwork in the first five minutes, but it was the visitors who went ahead when Borja connected with a 17th minute corner, much against the run of play. Barca didn’t let that setback get to them though and the chances kept coming with Elvis, Víctor Vàzquez, Ivan Benítez and Edu Oriol all having opportunities to equalise.

It was one-way traffic throughout the half, particularly once Valencia had been reduced to 10 men with the sending off of Riau after a straight red, but the visitors rode their luck and went in one up at the break.

Goals finally come

Luis Enrique made his intentions clear in the second half by bringing on Jonathan Soriano for defender Ivan Benítez and the move paid dividends on 57 minutes when Soriano met a cross from Edu Oriol on the right to bring the scores level.

With Barca Atlètic now laying siege to the Valencia goal, the second was just a matter of time before Elvis, who was a constant threat throughout the game, latched onto another Edu Oriol cross, this time from the left, for Montoya to poke home and put his team in front. Elvis, Nolito and Edu Oriol all had chances to put the game out of sight, but in the end the two goals were enough for three valuable points.

Second place virtually assured

The reserves are now second in their league on 73 points, five ahead of Ontinyent, who travel to Denia on Sunday and if they don’t get a win, Luis Enrique’s team will know they have taken second place before playing Oriola in the last game of the regular season.