MATCH REPORT | CD JÁVEA 1-0 CALLOSA DEPORTIVA

VICTORY! CD Jávea claimed their first three points of the season in a hard-fought game against Callosa Deportiva, striker Rodrigo scoring his first goal in the 80th minute just seconds after the visitors had hit the bar from the penalty spot. It was a perfect game for the neutral, end-to-end football and chances at both ends, either side could have claimed the victory, but it was the ‘rojiblancos’ who came out top to the delight of the many fans who turned out for this lunchtime encounter.

Callosa made their intentions suitably known early in the game, Victor García hitting the bar with a powerful shot from just inside the area after a defensive error from Caturla. However, Jávea were not willing to lie down and absorb the pressure and had the first real shot on target just a few minutes later which was pushed away by the keeper. A minute later, a great ball over the top from the defence sought out Cabo but the goalkeeper had charged well off his line and kicked the ball away from the young striker right on the edge of the area. And then skipper Aldo unleashed a fierce low shot from the edge of the area which was well-saved by the keeper. At the other end, Callosa’s Victor García tried to chip over the advancing Tonet but his effort was well-block by the chest off the keeper and the ball hoofed out of play by Guigues. And all this happened in the first 15 minutes.

The rest of the first half’s play featured a tough midfield battle with the occasional ball played forward towards either end but there were few clear chances. Both defences worked hard to absorb any attacks, there was the occasional mistake that forced hearts firmly into mouths, but both sides played well against each other and deserved the generous applause at the end.

The second half brought much of the same, end-to-end football and a succession of chances that might have been put away comfortably on any other day. And then, on 60 minutes, Jávea got a break. Callosa’s Rodrigo Fernández struggled to control the ball after it was launched clear from the other end and Cabo snuck in to head the ball clear, which he did but he also connected with the high boot of the defender to the dismay and shouts of the home fans. A good four or five minutes of treatment as well as a great deal of shoving, pushing and finger-pointing from both players and fans rivalled any VAR Burnley-like delay and concluded with a red shown to the defender, much to delight of Darrel and Bob.

As tends to be the case with some teams, the numerical disadvantage didn’t initially bother the visitors and they went close to opening the scoring a few minutes later when a long-range strike smashed against the bottom of the left post. In an counter-attack, Jávea also had a golden moment to open the scoring when Elias met a great pass from out wide but his effort was palmed over by the keeper at full-stretch; the play, however, was flagged offside anyway.

And then, on 79 minutes, Callosa were awarded a penalty when Aldo was judged to have brought down Victor García just inside the area. The ground fell briefly silent as the ball was carefully placed on the spot by Samuel López but his side-footed effort struck the bar. Seconds later, Jávea scored, Javi passing to Rodrigo who found himself in plenty of space on the left, the striker cutting inside to fire a wicked curling shot from 20 yards which deceived the keeper, leaving the custodian somewhat flat-footed, and the ball rippled the back of the net to make it 1-0, the Argentine’s first goal for the club.

Callosa had a chance to pull one back through Jaime Selva but the defender’s low shot was well-saved by Tonet at the near post. Javea then had half a chance to double their advantage through Javi but his low shot from distance was pushed away by the keeper at full stretch. Just a few minutes later, the referee brought the game to a close to the delight of the home fans.

Although victory leaves CD Jávea in the bottom three, the three points lifts them above L’Olleria CF, who lost in Dénia, whilst of bottom club CD Thader managed to score their first goal of the season but shipped six at the other end to remain firmly rooted at the bottom.

Next Sunday, CD Jávea make the long journey down to the Vega Baja del Segura to take on FB Redovan CF at the Campo Municipal de Redovan, kick-off 11.30am.

CD JÁVEA: Tonet; Isac, Caturla, Aldo, David (Tomás, 56m); Javi, Elian, Fran (Raúl García, 46m); Cabo, Rodrigo (Lautaro, 81m), Carlos (Pitu, 76m). Subs not used: Aaron (GK), Guille, Feliu.

CALLOSA DEPORTIVA: Ignacio; Rodriguez, Selva, López; Peral, Muñoz, Abadia (Testa, 90m), Antón (Fernández, 62m); García, Tari (Paredes, 64m), Fran. Subs not used: Aguiar (GK), Salvador, Macia, Calderon.

Referee: Sergio Sarrà García
Assistants: Jaime Eduardo Madrid Arango & Mario Denislavov Darvenyashki.

Scorers:
CD Jávea: Rodrigo, 80m.
Callosa Deportiva: –

Yellow Cards:
CD Javea: Javi, 16m; Cabo, 80m.
Callosa Deportiva: García, 40m; Parades, 90m.

Red Cards:
CD Jávea: None.
Callosa Deportiva: Rodriguez, 60m (straight red).