MATCH REPORT | CD Jávea 1-1 L’Olleria CF

Monday 6th February 2023
Mike Smith

Two missed penalties, two expulsions and a multitude of opportunities in front of both goals made this 1-1 draw an entertaining spectacle for the 300 or so fans who turned out at the Campo d’Esports Municipal on a chilly Saturday early evening.

L’Olleria CF arrived boasting a run of eight wins in the last ten games and sitting nicely in second spot, seven points clear of third place CD Olimpic. They have been the revelation of the season, an unlikely front runner for a promotion play-off spot for a small town club some 8km south of Xativa. Clearly, size doesn’t matter with the right coach and a decent set of players.

However, within the first minute of the game, CD Jávea sent a clear message to their opposition when some great work by Javi in midfield released Luis García on the left and his fierce shot was pushed away at full stretch by the keeper. Out of the right, José Cabo picked up the loose ball which is then fired back across the face of the goal but no-one was there to claim it and it rolled out for a goal-kick.

L’Olleria are a patient side and recovered from the early warning shot to start passing the ball quickly and confidently through midfield and across the entire width of the pitch. Eventually they forced a corner after briefly breaching the defence but Jávea’s Marcos was on hand to block the intended low cross at full stretch. The corner, taken by Emilio, was too long, and bounced harmlessly out at the far side for a goal kick.

The visitors shifted gears and had their hosts chasing ghosts for much of the opening period of the first half. They were in no rush and superb quick, one-touch passing across the wide of the pitch must have afforded gentle admiration, even from the home fans. On 20 minutes they forced a corner and a looping header from Marc bounced on the top of the bar with the keeper beaten. A few minutes later Emilio tried a long shot but it was just too high. And then Marc fell to the ground under a heavy challenge inside the area but the referee waved away appeals for a penalty. Jávea were very much fighting to stay in the game.

And then, on 25 minutes, CD Jávea got an unlikely break. Having sat and absorbed the pressure, the home side broke free in a quick counter-attack down the right-hand side through Joan who reached the byline and lifted a solid cross into the box. It was partially cleared by the defence but the ball dropped to captain Marcos who smashed home from ten yards, leaving the keeper grasping at thin air. 1-0 to Julio Ivorra’s boys.

The goal lifted Jávea but also rattled the cage of L’Olleria who pushed forward to find an immediate equaliser. They forced a corner but it is well cleared by the home defence. On 30 minutes, Pako lost the ball far too easily in midfield, allowing Nico Shafer to unleash a fierce shot from the edge of the area which is well-saved by Tonet.

Some great pressure from Jávea almost produced a second goal on 33 minutes. Luis García forced a corner, taken by Marcos, which dropped into a busy six-yard box. The ball was partiially cleared to Carlos whose audacious overhead kick is cleared off the line. The ball fell for Luis García and his shot is also cleared off the line and the ball is finally scrambled clear by the defence as the home fans held their heads in their hands, trying to work out how the ball didn’t end up in the back of the net.

The action switched ends and on 37 minutes a shot from L’Olleria’s Nico Chafer from outside the area falls just wide of the goal with the keeper well beaten. At the other end, Jávea force a couple of corners which come to nothing. And then, right on the stroke of half-time, Jávea’s Luis García is cynically brought down inside the area by defender Marc Tormo who received a straight red card for his effort, but the penalty kick from Pako was well-blocked by the keeper who guessed perfectly.

Second Half

The second half began as the first half ended, with a penalty award and a further reduction in the number players on the pitch. David Buigues took the ball down the left and drove a great cross into the box. The ball was partially cleared but a snatched shot was obviously palmed off the line by Luis Ramón and his moment as goalkeeper was rewarded with another straight red.

Sadly, the resulting penalty kick, taken this time by Javi, was saved by the keeper who once again guessed perfectly and fell to his right to block the shot and put the ball out for a corner. A disappointed Javi had to lift his spirits to take the kick, which drops into the box and is partially cleared to Luis García whose half-volley hit the bar.

L’Olleria were once again rattled by the pressure from the home side. On 57 minutes, Javi pushed the ball out to impressive substitute Álvaro who then crossed from the right side to the diminutive Carlos whose powerful header was pushed over the bar by the keeper.

And then, on 62 minutes, the visitors score. Working their way down the left, a low cross into the box found substitute Francesc who had the simple chance of knocking home the ball from six yards past a stranded keeper.

Jávea heads dropped. Confident first touches go missing. Passed are overhit, balls pushed too far. In the stands, club captain Aldo, serving a one-match suspension, paced back and forth, shouting encouragement and venting his frustration on various pieces of stadium infrastructure. Inuries and suspensions has meant that head coach Julio Ivorra has been forced to introduce youth in recent weeks and these lads needed to be strong and they really could have done with Aldo on the pitch rather than in the stands, pacing like a caged animal.

L’Olleria, playing with nine men, applied the pressure and looked the mostly likely to score next. Julio shouted his encouragement, Aldo did the same, and eventually Jávea lifted their game again and forced a couple of half chances which seemed to restore their confidence.

On 72 minutes, some great work down the right allowed Mario to push in a low cross to young substitute Kick but the ball got stuck under his feet with the goal beckoning and the keeper was able to clear, although a flag raised on the far side meant that a “goal” would have been disallowed for offside.

Two minutes later, Jávea absorbed another attack to launch a counter offensive through Carlos, who passed to Javi who charged forward and tried to chip the advancing keeper but the ball was not high enough and the custodian was able to pull it out of the sky above him.

As the minutes ticked away, Jávea pushed forward to find the winner, great pressure from the home side, and a free-kick was flicked just wide by substitute Ramis. Wave after wave pushed forward and L’Olleria’s numerical disadvantage was more obvious as the visitors were on the ropes. It just needed a bit of luck from Jávea. But it wasn’t to be. The referee brought the game to a close and it was the visitors who celebrated the most, for they knew that they had got away with it. Yet the Jávea players could hold their heads up high and deserved the applause at the end. Head coach Julio Ivorra has got CD Jávea playing football again.