FCBARCELONA.CAT

13.05.2007 19:29

Barça take roller hockey league title (2-2)

Sònia de Alba

Barça Sorli Discau have clinched their tenth consecutive league title away to Alnimar Reus Deportiu.

Coach Quim Paüls and his men have demonstrated once again that they are the undisputed kings of the OK roller hockey league. It was not easy to beat Reus – in the last two seasons Alnimar Reus Deportiu had forced a fourth game - but this season Barça knew exactly how to deal with their Catalan rivals. Apart from the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup, Barça Sorli Discau have won all their league and Cup games against Reus and have now finished the season on a high.

Balance

The first half was relatively calm. Barça kept it under control at the back – with Aitor Egurrola in excellent form – and built attack after attack. The home side kept their nerve and managed to match the quality of Barça’s hockey. Marc Gual was especially influential for Reus and the entrance of Guillem Cabestany helped share the responsibility.

Barça were looking confident and the player rotations - ‘Negro’ Páez, Carlitos López and Mia Ordeig all came off the bench – kept the game lively. In the final minute of the first half, Ordeig scored an excellent goal only for Cabestany to equalise just moments later.

R eus the first to react

After the break, the lethargy of the first half gave way to some more convincing pressure from the home side. Reus Deportiu took the lead thanks to an unstoppable effort from Aitor Egurrola that flew into the top corner. Reus stepped up the pressure and Marc Gual almost got another. However, with just two minutes left on the clock, Beto Borregán scored to force extra time.

Penalties

Both sides had their chances to seal a win in extra time with Teixidó, Ordeig and Caldú all going close.

Cachi had a golden opportunity to win the game after being fouled by Jordi García with just three seconds left, but his shot was stopped by Trabal.

In the penalty shootout, Barça Sorli Discau stayed cool and focussed. David Páez missed the first as did Guillem Cabestany. However, Borregán, Carlitos López and Miquel Masoliver all converted theirs to hand Barça yet another OK league title.