05.02.2011 20:10

Into the final! (7-6)

Llorenç Tarrés (enviat especial)

Barça Alusport have made it over the final hurdle and are into tomorrow’s final after qualifying by means of a gripping penalty shootout.

Paco Sedano, who didn’t play a minute of the game, turned out to be hero as he saved two penalties to send Barça Alusport through in dramatic fashion. The team celebrated in style, and with every right. It’s the first time Marc Carmona’s side has played in a final.

Some of the people on the bench simply couldn’t bear to watch, especially after Jordi Torras missed his kick and it looked like it was all over. But there was to be a twist in the tale

Infernal ambience

Playing in front of the home supporters, Barça Alusport were always going to have it tough. But although they went out strong and looked too hot for the home side to handle, the early goal wouldn’t come and with that the Segovians started growing in confidence.

There were nerves when FCB conceded their fifth foul with five minutes still to play, but it was their hosts that were to face a double penalty. Wilde’s strike was saved by Cidão.

Goals arrive

With no score in the first half, Barça again looked hungry as the second got under way. And then Lin finally opened the scoring after pouncing on the rebound from a previous effort from Saad.

Caja Segòvia were stunned by that, and moments later Fernandão had made it two and Lin almost added a third. But just when it looked like the home side was on the verge of surrendering, Lozano produced a blazing individual run to make it 2-1.

Lottery

The Pedro Delgado burst into life, and buoyed the team into such a frenzy that they shocked their visitors by tying the match at 2-2 thanks to Antoñito. Some great saves from Cristian kept Barça in a game that was slipping away from them, and it ended all-square and headed for overtime.

The extra time period was marked more by nerves than anything else, and produced little in the way of ambitious football. And so it went to penalties. Sedano the penalty specialist came on and threw his heart into his work and produced some stunning saves. Barça are into the first ever cup final.