Match Report: VCF Mestalla held to all-action home draw to CE L’Hospitalet (1-1)

VCF Mestalla welcomed CE Hospitalet on Sunday morning on Matchday 4 of the second phase at the Antonio Puchades. The game finished in a 1-1 draw after VCF Mestalla go themselves in front through Fran Navarro. Alas, it was short-lived CE L’Hospitalet equalised from 12 yards out only four minutes on.

 The match opened up in the second half chances galore, especially for VCF Mestalla who could not get the win having the clearest of chances deep into stoppage time with the last kick of the game through Fran Navarro which went across the face of goal.  

VCF Mestalla came out searching for the win right from the off. Playing a stifling high line which forced the opposition into giving away possession when brining the ball out from the back.

 Both sides enjoyed the first chances of the game from set-pieces. Frist the away side tried to test Unai from a free-kick and then, Esquerdo delivered a dangerous corner kick which rolled across the face of goal.

The contest evened out halfway through the first half  VCF Mestalla go themselves in front through Fran Navarro who latched onto a long José David ball putting the opposition goalkeeper under pressure  which caught the goalkeeper in two minds to score and get into double digits.

The joy was short-lived CE L’Hospitalet were awarded a spot-kick only four minutes later. Canario cancelled out Fran Navarro’s opener.

VCF Mestalla got over the mental blow after the equaliser and enjoyed a double chance right before the interval though Koba Leïn and Fran Pérez whose effort went a whisker wide of the post.

The second half started with a clear- cut chance for Oscar Fernández’s side David Ruiz probed down the left wing and delivered an inch-perfect cross into Fran Navarro who got on the end of it but could not quite guide it on target.  

Minutes later, Pablo Gozálbez finished off a counter-attack with an effort which went narrowly wide of the post. Óscar Fernández made a few attacking changes bringing on Ndombasi and brining fresh legs on the wings with Jesús Vázquez, Estacio and H. González.

The game turned into an end-to-end spell with both sides searching for the winning goal so much so that the referee ruled out two goals to the away side the first one for offside and then for handball against Ripoll who was sent off for a double booking.   

VCF Mestalla came mighty close to snatching a late winner Carlos Pérez played Fran Navarro onside but his shot rolled across the face of goal deep into stoppage time which sums up VCF Mestalla’s poor fortune this season.

Match Details:

1-. VCF Mestalla: Unai, G. Molina, F. Navarro, Esquerdo, José David (H. González, m. 74), Sibille, F. García (Ndombasi, m. 64), K. Koba Leïn, Gozálbez © (C. Pérez, m. 82), David Ruiz (J. Vázquez, m. 64) and Fran Pérez (Estacio, m. 74)

1.- CE L’Hospitalet: Aliaga, Gómez (Joan Salvá, m. 52), Martí Soler, Ripoll, Canario, Salinas, Christian Alfonso (De la Espada, m. 74), Diego (Reina, m. 67), One, Jorquera  and Álex Felip.

Goals: 1-0 m. 23 Fran Navarro; 1-1, m. 27 Canario (p).

Referee: Luis Fernando Collado. Booked F. García for VCF Mestalla and One,  Martí Soler and sent off Ripoll for a double booking CE L’Hospitalet (88.m).

Observations: Matchday 4 in Group III-E second phase held at the Antonio Puchades behind closed doors.