Castellón fall to Córdoba at the Nuevo Arcángel (2-0)

Castellón might have been playing over 600km from home at the Estadio Nuevo Arcángel, but the Albinegro fans came out in force in what was a game worthy of a higher division, but where Castellon failed to match Cordoba for 90 minutes. In a duel of first versus third, the stakes were high, with the Andalucian side coming into the game in unstoppable form, with four wins in a row. However goals from Kike Marquez and Simo condemned Castellon to defeat and confirmed that the title race will be anything but a one-horse affair.

The home side started the game stronger and had the first real chance, when a ball played over the top found Carracedo, and Gonzalo Crettaz had to get down well to save in what was a one-on-one situation. The Argentine was made to work again barely a minute later, but Córdoba’s long-range effort was easier to tip over. Castellón responded slightly and De Miguel briefly had the ball in the back of the net, but didn’t even bother to celebrate as it was instantly ruled out for offside.

The first half an hour went by quickly, with Córdoba very effective at limiting Castellón’s attacking opportunities in a way that not many teams have been able to this season, while also taking advantage of Albinegro mistakes to create chances of their own. Adilson forced another stop out of Crettaz shortly after the half-hour mark after cutting inside, but his shot was straight at the Castellón keeper.

The last 10 minutes of the first half continued to be characterized by Castellón errors, with Antonio Casas winning the ball too easily and getting a shot off that narrowly missed to the left of Gonzalo’s goal. De Miguel’s tame header wide was the closest the visitors came to the target in the last phase of the first half.

Whatever words Dick Schreuder had at half time seemed to have worked, however, as Castellón came out of the better side and went close within five minutes of the restart, Manu Sánchez’s effort from a corner going narrowly over the bar.

The joy was very short-lived, though. A mistake by the Castellón defence two minutes later allowed Kike Márquez to get in behind and finish past Crettaz from a tight angle to stop the Albinegro momentum right in its tracks. It was certainly well taken by the Córdoba captain, but there was no doubt immense frustration at the way and when the goal was conceded.

The game stabilized slightly over the next 10 minutes, with Manu Sánchez managing to get a shot on goal, and Córdoba heading over, but that was enough time for Dick Schreuder to decide to shake things up, as he brought on Traoré, Villahermosa, and Indias.

Córdoba held firm, though, and maintained the excellent discipline and patience that they had shown in large parts of the first half. If anything, they started to take advantage of Castellón needing to push more men forward in search of the goal, and generated several nice counterattacking sequences. The introduction of forwards Grønning and Suero for the central midfield pair of Julio Gracia and Cristian did nothing to help the Albinegros’ defensive solidity, but it was backs to the wall in search of the equaliser, much like it was away at Ibiza two weekends ago.

And, much like against Ibiza two weeks ago, the second eventually came, as Castellón were opened up on the counter and Simo Bouzaidi was left one on one with Crettaz to coolly slot home and kill the game.

Córdoba firmly asserted their title credentials, and join Ibiza and Castellón in the group of contenders for the number one spot come May. After a disappointing loss in front of a group of visiting fans 700 strong, the focus now turns to ending the year on a high in the last game before the Christmas break, against Real Murcia at Castalia next weekend.

CD Castellón: Gonzalo, Chirino, Alberto, Salva Ruiz, Manu Sánchez (Villahermosa 62), Calavera (Iago Indias 62), Cristian (Gronning 80), Julio Gracia (Suero 80), Moyita (Traore 62), Medunjanin, De Miguel

Cordoba CF: Marin, Albarran, Carlos Garcia, Lapeña, Calderon (Ivan 78), Carracedo (Simo 78), Diarra (Sala 88), Isma Ruiz (Recio 78), Adilson, Kike Marquez (Zalazar 84), Casas

Goals: Kike Marquez 52, Simo 90

Referee: Antonio Alberola Rojas

Attendance: 14680