The Barça roller hockey team will have to play a fifth game if they want to make it to the OK Liga play-off final, as Ricard Ares’s side lost at Les Comes in the fourth game of the series against Igualada. The final fixture is at the Palau Blaugrana next week.
This was a very tough and high-octane contest and the blaugranes went ahead in the second half when Sergi Llorca scored. However Biel Llanes and Marc Carol quickly scored to turn it back in Igualada’s favour to tie the play-off series 2-2.
Goals hard to come by
No score in the first half at Les Comes. Igualada were playing very direct and had several clear chances, causing Ricard Ares’ side issues, especially early in the half. All the same, Sergi Fernández stood firm and made some great saves.
Barça had to dig deep and weather the storm from the home side, and in fact, Alabart had a couple of moments when he could have put his side ahead, with the clearest hitting the post.
Igualada victory
Still 0-0 in the second half, Igualada quickly reached nine fouls, which meant they had to adopt a less intense approach and Barça could play more freely. Aragonès, Llorca and Marc Grau all had chances to score, but Ferran Font had the clearest from a direct free hit (min. 37).
The blaugrana goal came soon after as Sergi Llorca received and despite being under pressure from two home side defenders, he turned beautifully to score and break the deadlock (0-1, min. 40).
The joy was short-lived though, as Biel Llanes scored from a direct free hit (1-1, 41), before Marc Carol hit a powerful first time shot to complete the comeback (2-1, 42) for Igualada.
Barça kept pushing and came close to equalising. Alabart had a couple of chances and having one player more for the final minute or so saw other good chances come and go. Final score 2-1 and the series will go to the fifth game at the Palau Blaugrana to decide who will go through to the final.
GAME STATS
IGUALADA 2
BARÇA 1
Igualada: Arnau Martínez, Matías Pascual, Marc González, Joan Ruano, Marc Carol – starting five – Biel Llanes, Alex Cardil, Roger Bars, Miguel Cañadillas.
Barça: Sergi Fernández, Alabart, Barroso, Marc Grau, Sergi Llorca – starting five – Ferran Busquets (sg), Pablo Álvarez, Ferran Font, Sergi Aragonès, Eloi Cervera.
Goals: 0-1, Sergi Llorca (min 40). 1-1, Biel Llanes (min 41). 2-1, Marc Carol (min 42).
Referees: Josep Antoni Ribo, Oriol Pérez. Blue card for Matias Pascual from Igualada. Fouls: 13-14.
