FC Barcelona emerge winners after coming from two goals down to clinch a 3-2 victory over Girona in the Copa Catalunya.


Match Report: Wednesday 05/09/2007 21:45 (GMT +1), Copa Catalunya Semi-Final
GIRONA - FC BARCELONA 2-3( 0-0 )


Stadium: Nou Municipal, Null

Referee: Perez Fuentes


Goals:
1-0 Chechu ( 61' )

2-0 Uri ( 65' )
2-1 Migue ( 66' )o.g

2-2 Ezquerro ( 70' )pen.
2-3 Sylvinho ( 73' )


Cautions:

Yellow Card: Corcoles ( 25' ), Asensio ( 26' ), Matamala ( 41' ), Xumetra ( 69' )


Line-Up:


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Jorquera, Corcoles ( Botia, 46' ), Marquez, Marc Crosas, Dimas ( Gai, 46' ), Jeffren, Sylvinho, Ezquerro, Guerra ( Victor, 36 ), Xavi Torres ( Thiago, 36' ), Oleguer
Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Girona (4-4-2): Rafa Ponzo, David Sanchez, Rangel, Dot, Migue, Chechu ( Xumetra, 65' ), Matamala, Santi Asensio, Larios, Arnal, Jito ( Uri, 46' )

Manager: Raul Agne


Match Report:
The match began in full swing, with the Barcelona made up mostly of reserve team and youth players proving they were also capable of holding the forte of the Blaugrana in the absence of first team players.

The first half was mainly a test of skill and technique for the two sides as few chances came, with Jeffren, Marquez and Suarez coming closest to scoring, but not doing enough to prevent the first 45 minutes from ending without any goals from either side. The closest was from Jeffren who raced down the right flank in the 11th minute to deliver a great from an acute angle. The ball flew through the air and rattled the Girona cross-bar.


However, the second half was a different story. Five goals in 12 minutes was witnessed in a blitz of goals and drama. Girona drew first blood when Chechu latched on a lose ball in the Barca area and riffled home in the 61st minute for the stadium to come alive. Girona were one goal up. With good football from Chechu and Uri urging Girona on, it seemed they had finally found their rythym. Uri got the second goal in the 66th minute from a header after he was left unmarked at the far post.


Barca quickly reorganised, stepping up their game as the reality of trailing 0-2 away from Camp Nou had dawned. An immediate result was seen when Barca launched a fierce attack in the 66th minute, putting pressure on Girona whose defender, Migue gave in to the heat and cleared the ball into his own net for an own goal (o.g), reducing the tally by one goal. Four minutes later, Sylvinho was brought down in the Girona 18-yard box and the referee, Raul Agne awarded a penalty to the Blaugrana. Ezquerro stepped up to connect a well taken spot kick by chipping the round leather beyond Girona's keeper and into the net for Barcelona to draw level at 2-2. Sylvinho was in the news again when the Brazilian surged forward and rammed a canon into the roof of the Girona net for the third and final goal of the match in the 73rd minute. FC Barcelona were 3 goals up against Girona's 2. Both sides made efforts to score as the match wore on, but the blitz of five great goals in 12 eventful minutes was not to be repeated, as the match trailed off into injury time and finally ended with FC Barcelona winning 3-2 and setting up a Copa Catalunya final match date with Gimnastic de Tarragona next Tuesday.


My Comments:
Good football by FC Barcelona and another great showing by the reserve team players. Sylvinho played a good senior player role by being instrumental to the goals that were scored and Ezquerro proved his worth also. Girona gave a good account of themselves, but must admit they lost to a better and more talented side who had a mixture of experienced senior team players and eager junior team players to fall back on when it mattered most.