The end of the Second Division B 2019-20 is approaching. It seemed incredible when the pandemic forced to stop the competition. The Royal Spanish Football Federation had to invent on the fly a new format, at headquarters, and a remodeling for the future. Unlike professional football, there have been no positive problems. All this has made it possible for today eight teams are playing the most important games of their lives. The winners of the four duels will play next Sunday to reserve a place in LaLiga SmartBank. For being with the best. For avoiding the problems derived from not getting into the new Second B Pro next season. For honoring his fans, who have experienced one of the most anomalous seasons in history. For all this and for much more, they have given the breast, but there could only be four. This is how the promotion semifinals in Second Division B were:
Atlético Baleares 0- Cornellà 1
Monumental blowout of Atlético Baleares, which, one more season, is eliminated after being first in the regular season. Despite being a project designed for the elite and dominating with an iron fist during the season, the pressure took its toll on those of Mandiola, who did not take advantage of the double opportunity. 210 minutes after debuting in this Playoff, they still can't boast of having scored a goal. So, impossible. Cornellá already began warning, with Manu forced to make a great intervention to save the first goal of the afternoon by auction of Paul Fernandez. And it is that the Catalans started better, although, little by little, the Balearic Islands was getting into the game.
It was a great tactical battle, both being aware that the error was paid with life. Gabarre lived it in his own meat. Haro gave him a great ball, but he did not get a good profile and Cristian Pérez came quickly to annoy his shot, who went to the side of the net. The Mandiola team would have another in the first half. Jorge Ortiz shot poisoned and, after bouncing off a rival, was poisoned and forced Ramon Juan to reach in before it hit the crossbar. The same protagonists as soon as the second half started, with exactly the same result.
Thus, the minutes passed and passed and an extension was coming on the horizon. Óscar Gil, with a header near the post, was one of the few to want to avoid it. The other was Agus MedinaBut his success would decide everything. Javi Jiménez put a great ball from the left, but not better than his shot. His left foot left an ideal shot, which slipped tight to the left post. Cornellà had before him a dream and ten minutes ahead to not wake up. They knew that he would have to suffer, although his rival had more emotional wear than on his legs. “The same nightmare again,” they would think. A little piece of heart still wanted to turn it around. It was Lekic's, who, on the horn, hit a good shot. Ramón Juan's hands shattered again Balearic hope. Cornellá, for the promotion.
Barcelona B 1 (5) – Badajoz 1 (3)
Barça will represent the brilliant year of the subsidiaries in the final match for the promotion to LaLiga SmartBank. After Valladolid Promises, Bilbao Athletic and Atlético de Madrid B fell in the first round, only García Pimienta's team remained as the hope of the 'B'. He didn't do it without suffering, of course, but he did show the world the potential of his most talented players, despite the fact that Ansu Fati or Riqui Puig, regulars during the season, did not attend the appointment by contraindication of Quique Setién. Even so, the most promising values of La Masía as Monchu or Konrad they brought out their full potential.
Already in the 5th minute of the meeting, Barça B warned with a great shipment from the side of Akieme, well repelled by the rear. Konrad was a torment for the Badajoz and the Catalans used the left as a gateway for attack operations. Kike Royo, savior until the penalty shootout, He was a true hero. First he made a paradox to Konrad; then to Monchu, in a ball that ended up hitting the wood. The Badajoz could not even counterattack, it was suffocated. But he did it once and that was enough. Sergi Maestre made a great pass in three quarters of the field and gave the ball to Guzmán for 0-1.
Royo was again a savior before the break. Monchu and Konrad collided with him again. Especially the first, who released a lash that hit the wood after the goalkeeper intervened. Surprising, but as the minutes passed, Badajoz found himself more comfortable in the Barça barrage. A shot to the Akieme crosshead was practically the only one that the subsidiary had until the goal of Rey Manaj arrived. The striker headed absolutely alone in the area and scored at pleasure. In a Playoff, mistakes are paid dearly. In extra time, it was the pacenses who had the most options, with a great lack of Morgado or a chance by Chris Ramos. Already in the batch, the subsidiary did not forgive a single maximum penalty and Morgado himself collided with Iñaki Peña. There is talent at La Masía …
Castellón 1 – Peña Deportiva 0
The nightly rate was worth it at La Rosaleda. Because the feat of the Peña Deportiva, regardless of the final result, is worth telling. Last season they went up to Segunda B, in a historic year for the club. The goal was permanence, but Marbella was eliminated and played a new coconut like the Castellón. They fell eliminated, but with the honor of enduring a colossus that did not stop trying for a single moment. The game started with the wind in favor of Casañ's, but the leaders acclimatized and launched the first warning on César Díaz's boots. Bernal, the best of his attacking team, wanted to respond, but was left with no ability to reply. First Rubén Díez; later, Ortuño; later, Iñigo … It was a bombardment of Torres's goal, directly responsible for the resilience of their own.
The game changed in 43 ', when Cruz saw the second yellow card in a very rigorous action. There is hardly any contact and Cruz himself does his best to prevent it. La Peña Deportiva couldn't believe it. He saw how his dream was dismantled. Enduring a champion for more than a half with ten players … Mission Impossible? No. Torres gave the day to César Díaz and Ortuño, desperate at the fact that they were unable to break the fortress. Castellón cornered its rival, who continued to hold on as best he could. Meanwhile, the club's official Twitter account cried out against the red, in his opinion and that of a large part of the fans, unfair.
The situation could still get worse. At 82 ' De Val went out into the street through a back entrance. The replay showed neither obvious contact, violent action, or malicious hitting.. But the referee played a direct red to the disbelief of the entire Ibiza team. Even so, the extension came and, with it, the next siege of Castellón. Of course, Torres returned to save his family. Nor was the controversy exempt. La Peña Deportiva called for the expulsion of a rival for cutting a clear counterattack. It was still own field, but, seen what was seen, it gave the impression that the action was more deserving of red than the previous two. All the effort was gone. The Castellón, incessant in the effort, was rewarded for its siege. Cubillas finished with a header at the near post and scored the first and only goal of the match.
Cultural Leonesa 2 – Sabadell 2
Sabadell will play for promotion, together with Castellón, Cornellá and Barça B. Plenary of Group III and Mackay called to be the hero of this Playoff. History repeats itself. The Cultural Leonesa came from a placid and forceful victory against Yeclano, but she would soon discover that the semifinal would not be like that. Héctor Rodas, providential in anticipation, saved in the early stages. Mackay, Sabadell's hero in the previous round, would also play his cards, taking a good shot from Pichín. The Catalans would go ahead soon after, in a move worthy of putting in football schools about how you should not defend a lateral foul. Querol marked his shot, helped by a poorly placed barrier and an erratic Leandro in the block. Later it would amend its error.
But, in between, Mackay was the doorman who would carry the singing voice. With stops of all colors and Pichin, Hector Hernandez and Kawaya as his favorite victims. The party was beautiful. A constant round trip, with dozens of occasions. Before the break there were four more. To the wood shot Alvaro King; Edgar I was launching into the clouds absolutely alone; Héctor Hernández forgave; Sabadell did not know how to take advantage of a clear backlash … One after another before the break, which, unlike expected, did not lower the revs.
Without wanting to bore you with a tangle of occasions, we will go straight to the decisive point. After a Kawaya game, Héctor Hernández would put the tables. A monumental volley from Menudo to the squad in the 86th minute turned the scoreboard. They promised them happy in León, but Sabadell had an ace up his sleeve. On the horn, Óscar Rubio took advantage of a rebound in the front of the area to put the tables. In extra time, Leandro saved a free-kick from Lanzarote, heading for the squad. Iván González was also expelled. Nothing remarkable to avoid penalties, where Mackay reigned again. He stopped three against Atlético and two against Cultural. Their Playoffs are already historical.