Pablo Valcarce’s first half goal clinched victory for Ponferradina in Week 7 of La Liga Smartbank, at home to a Tenerife side that missed a second half penalty and were reduced to ten players with 17 minutes remaining.
Defender Oscar Sielva was injured and unavailable for the hosts so Real Madrid loanee Manu Hernando started at centre back. Juergen Elitim was dropped to the bench with Jose Antonio Rios Reina coming into the starting XI. The hosts played a 4-4-2 formation with Yuri de Souza and Valcarce up front, Curro Sanchez and Carlos Doncel wide. In central midfield Erik Moran played a disciplined role in front of his defence, while Pablo Larrea showed some classy touches.
Fran Fernandez made three changes to the XI that drew at Sporting Gijon three days ago: Suso Santana, Valentin Vada and Nono all dropped to the bench, with starts given to Ramon Folch, Jacobo Gonzalez and Alex Bermejo. The visitors were in a 4-3-3 shape with Folch their deep lying midfielder. Gio Zarfino provided a good muscular presence as an attacking midfielder.
Ponfe hadn’t played at the weekend and looked slightly fresher in the first half, taking the lead on 20 minutes when 38 year old Yuri’s fantastic assist teed up Valcarce for a simple finish. Yuri had exchanged passes with Curro before dribbling into the box and calmly picking out Valcarce - the only player from the city of Ponferrada who started the game.
Tenerife should have equalised through Fran Sol ten minutes later, but his shot hit the post from close range. In the closing stages of the half Ponfe nearly extended their lead: Doncel headed wide after more excellent play by Yuri, Curro had a free kick well saved and Paris Adot’s powerful shot was tipped over.
Fernandez made a triple change at half time to try and swing the game Tenerife’s way: sending on Suso, Vada and Nuno for Folch, Jacobo and Bermejo. The visitors were enjoying most of the possession and carved out half chances for Vada and Zarfino.
Their best opportunity to equalise came on 63 minutes when a smart piece of play by Nono led to a hand-ball in the box by Hernando. Referee Aitor Gorostegui Fernandez-Ortega awarded the penalty after an on field review but Suso Santana’s tame spot kick was saved by goalkeeper Jose Antonio Caro.
Ten minutes later Zarfino was yellow carded after catching substitute Kaxe with his arm, and moments later he was sent off for what appeared to be descent. With a numerical advantage Ponfe enjoyed more possession and 21 year old Colombian Elitim, brought off the bench, was particularly lively in the closing stages.
Tenerife switched to a back three and threw on attacking players but did not create any clear chances late on.
Ponfe held on to keep their fourth clean sheet of the season and move on to 12 points from six fixtures. Their fourth win of the campaign lifts them to fourth in the table.
As for Tenerife, they suffered a fourth defeat of the season and have now scored only five goals in their seven fixtures. After the match manager Fran Fernandez, just a few months into the job, was asked by journalists whether he felt strong enough to turn the situation around.
Images from Info Bierzo and La Nueva Cronica
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