MATCH REPORT | CD JÁVEA 3-2 CF BENIDORM

CD Jávea produced one of the performances of the season on Saturday evening to condemn league leaders to only their second defeat of the season and breathe some life in the relegation battle as the season draws to a close.

Three goals in six minutes at the beginning of the second half put Jávea into an unlikely 3-0 lead, the first time that the champions-elect had conceded three goals since early November last year, and silenced the 70+ Benidorm fans who travelled up the coast hoping to see their side secure the championship with a win against the bottom club which they had crushed 7-0 in a first fixture back in December.

Created from a merger of two of the Costa Blanca holiday resort’s football clubs – FC Atlético Benidorm and Racing CF Benidorm – and heavily financed by DV7 Group, a business founded by former Spain and Valencia striker David Villa, it’s no surprise that CF Benidorm has dominated the league this season, sweeping aside lesser clubs who enjoy little or no major investment, and opening up a big lead at the top of the table. The club last experienced defeat in mid-September – a 3-1 away defeat at L’Olleria CF – and they arrived in Jávea knowing that a win would secure the championship.

However, CD Jávea refused to bow down and a decent crowd enjoyed a first half that was marked by the strong midfield battle in which the home side more than held its own with solid tackling, intelligent passing and a refusal to give their opponents the space to take control of the game, a totally different performance to that in which the team capitulated last December in Villajoyosa.

Goalless at half-time, no-one expected what was to come in the second period. CD Jávea overwhelmed the champions-elect right from the kick-off, the opponents looking ragged and panicked into making error after error. The first goal came as a result of superb pressure from the Jávea side with just 25 seconds on the clock. A comfortable pass from the right to Jota seemed innocuous enough but Benidorm defender made a complete hash of a clearance upfield, passing the ball straight to the feet of Pitu who charged past the defender and from just outside the area, the young striker slotted the ball home beyond the advancing keeper to make it 1-0.

Strong pressure from a confident Jávea brought the second goal within four minutes. A quick free-kick in the centre of the park was passed out to the right where a pass into the area was poorly cleared by the defence, the ball falling to Javi who tried a shot from the edge of the area. The ball was blocked but the ball was collected under pressure by Pitu just inside the area who twisted past three defenders to fire a shot from 16 yards beyond the out-stretched arms of the keeper to make it 2-0 and send the home fans into a strange condition of delirium, suffering both elation and confusion at the same time.

The third goal arrived on 52 minutes, José Cabo embarking on a great run down the left after snatching the ball away from the feet of a Benidorm player on the half-way line and running into acres of space inside the area to fire a low cross across the face of the goal where an unmarked Javi was able to side-foot easily beyond the keeper from the edge of the six-yard box to make it 3-0.

It took Benidorm until the final 15 minutes of the half to start to impose their strength on the home side and on 77 minutes they took pulled one back through Pablo who met a low deep cross from the left to push the ball home from close range. The visitors upped their game, piling pressure on the Jávea defence, and on 89 minutes former Jávea player Mario scored a trademark header from a corner to make it 3-2, the young defender limiting his celebrations despite the importance of the goal.

With more than five minutes of additional time played, Benidorm won a free-kick just outside the area and the shot sailed over the wall and nestled in the netting behind the goal. For a moment, many fans at the other end of the pitch thought that an incredible comeback had been complete but Benidorm heads fell into hands whilst Jávea fans celebrated as it became clear that the kick was too high. It was the last kick of the game as the referee brought an amazing game to a conclusion and allowed Jávea fans to celebrate a remarkable victory and moved to within two points of safety with four games to play.

The following day, CF Benidorm were confirmed as champions of the Lliga Comunitat Grup Sud after their nearest rivals Crevillente Deportivo suffered defeat at Hércules CF “B”.

---

CD JAVEA: Tonet, Guille, Isaac, Cabo, Elian, Mario, Javi (Fran, 82m), Aldo, Raúl García, Pitu (Gabriel, 70m), Carlos. Subs not used: Miller (GK), Lautaro, Kenneth, Samson, David Buigues.

CF BENIDORM: Álvaro, Ayoze, Jota (Mario, 59m), Cabezas, Aquino, Miñano, Pato (Cayetano, 77m), Morgado, Nefta, José Carlos (Marcos, 59m), Juanjo (Víctor, 59m). Subs not used: Prieto (GK), Victor, Francone.

---

Scorers:
CD Jávea: Pitu 46m, 50m; Javi 52m.
CF Benidorm: Pablo 77m; Mario 89m.

---

Referee: Eduardo Botella Cereceda.
Assistants: Adrian Chazarra Barquino and Oscar Martínez Martínez.

Yellow Cards:
CD Jávea: Mario 44m; Aldo 48m; Gabriel 89m; Elian 90m.
CF Benidorm: José Carlos 6m; Jota 7m; Nefta 74m.

Red Cards:
CD Jávea: David Buigues 90m.
CF Benidorm: None.

---

The Relegation Battle – Remaining Matches

CF LA NUCIA B	CD THADER	CALLOSA DEP	SANTA POLA	CD JÁVEA
–	–	–	–	CFI Alicante (a)
CD Jávea (h)	Callosa Dep (h)	CD Thader (a)	Hércules CF B (h)	CF La Nucia B (a)
CFI Alicante (a)	FB Redovan (a)	CD Olímpic (h)	L’Olleria CF (a)	UE Tavernes (h)
CF UD Calpe (h)	L’Olleria CF (h)	CF Benidorm (a)	CD Dénia (h)	Crevillente (a)

---

---

CD JÁVEA – Season 2023-24

---

---