Málaga CF and Celta Fortuna met this Saturday 1st June at 18:30 in the first leg of the playoff semi-finals for promotion to the Second Division. The match was played at the Abanca Balaídos with 5,705 spectators, among whom were almost a thousand Malaguistas who crossed all of Spain to cheer on their team.
Sergio Pellicer’s starting-11 consisted of: A. Herrero; C Puga, Nelson, Juande, Víctor: Genaro, Manu Molina; D Larrubia, Dani Lorenzo, Ferreiro and Roberto.
The duel was exciting during the first 45 minutes. Locals and visitors alternated opportunities, although it was the home side that opened the scoring in the 15th minute. Alfon González surprised with a shot inside the area to the near post (1-0).
The goal, far from daunting the Blue and Whites (wearing green and purple on this occasion), drove them to multiply their arrivals into the rival area.
The Malaguistas alternated lateral crosses with interior associations. Genaro came close to going level in the 30th minute when he shot a low ball served by Ferreiro from the edge of the area that went high. Larrubia, for his part, hit the post in the 32nd minute after receiving a spectacular pass from Dani Lorenzo in the area. The number '10' shot at the near post, denying him the goal.
Celta Fortuna took the opportunity to try to surprise the counterattack, although they were unable to increase their lead in the first half despite a shot to the crossbar just before half-time.
As time went on, Málaga CF created two new chances. A header from Roberto that the rival goalkeeper barely managed to clear and a dangerous shot from Dani Lorenzo that hit the side of the net. At 1-0 we reached half-time.
The second half was even more electric than the first. Málaga CF managed to even the score right after the restart. Víctor served a precise corner that was cleared by the rival defence with difficulty. The ball fell again to the fullback for Genaro to finish with a header into goal (1-1, 45').
Málaga CF tried to take control of the intense match and step up the attack. However, it was on a counterattack where Pellicer's team took the lead. Roberto featured in a counter along with two others. The forward found the opportunity to confront the opposing goalkeeper and provoke a penalty. The referee called it and Roberto converted to the left post, outwitting the goalkeeper (1-2, 61').
With the Malaguistas in the lead and supported by the local fans, Celta Fortuna took a step forward in search of equalising the match. Málaga CF held firm until injury time, where Pablo Durán took advantage of a ball behind the defence to beat Alfonso Herrero with a subtle touch with his toe to make it 2-2 (93').
Despite the blow, Málaga CF had the last clear chance of the match. Dioni headed a ball on the edge of the six-yard box, but the ball went slightly over the crossbar.
The match came to an end with the score at 2-2 at the Abanca Balaídos. The tie will be decided at La Rosaleda next Saturday the 8th at 19:30.