Barça B beat Badajoz on penalties as promotion edges closer

Albert Rogé

23/07/2020 Upd. at 23:40 CEST

Rey Manaj scored late on to take the match to extra time but it was Barça who held their nerve better from 12 yards

Barça B came away with the result they wanted - and with it a place in the Segunda B Play-Off finals - but they were made to work until the very last minute to achieve it. The match finished 1-1 after 90 minutes and a further 30 couldn't separate two exhausted sides. In the end, Iñaki Peña's save in the shootout was enough to secure a crack at returning to LaLiga Smartbank next season.

MATCH FACTS

Playoff

FCB B

1* ________________ 1

BAD

LINE UP

Barça B

Iñaki Peña; Morer, Araujo Cuenca, Akieme; Jandro (Mingueza 81'), Ilaix (Reis 68'), Monchu; Matheus (Nils 68'), Konrad Gerard 105') y Rey Manaj

CD Badajoz

Kike Royo, Toni Abad (Fobi 105'), Candelas (Kike Pina 119'), César Morgado, Sergi Maestre, Guzmán Casaseca (Concha 69'), Caballero (Chris Ramos 60'), Dani Aquino (Santamaria 60'), Álex Corredera, Pablo Vázquez y Adilson (Isma Cerro 119').

Goles

0-1 Guzman, min 39. 1-1 Rey Manaj, min 82.

Árbitro

Raúl Martín González Francés (colegio canario). Amonestó a Reis, Araujo

Incidencias

Partido correspondiente a las semifinales del playoff de ascenso a LaLiga Smartbank disputado en el Nuevo Mirador de Algeciras a puerta cerrada

Garcia Pimienta only made one change from the side which beat Valladolid in the previous round. Ronald Araujo took a break from his first-team involvement to slot in at the back for Barça B.

Badajoz made it clear they would be playing on the counterattack and conceded possession to Barça B at will, looking to avoid making any mistakes. All the early chances fell to Garcia Pimienta's side but they were either wasted or parried by an impressive Kike Royo in the Badajoz goal. Yet football can be cruel and one error from Barça B was immediately punished. Guzman put the finishing touch on a quick break but one that felt harsh on Barça.

There was greater urgency from Barça B in the second half but they were constantly being frustrated by a wall of defenders and an opposition goalkeeper having the game of his life. Both sides shuffled the deck as fitness came into play. As the fitness levels dropped, so did the quality, but not the effort. That effort was finally rewarded when Konrad de la Fuente found some space and swung his cross into the box. Rey Manaj rose highest and guided his header into the bottom corner. Relief at least for a Barça B side who had literally run themselves into the ground.

Extra time was a battle of will rather than substance. Badajoz had given everything in the hope of keeping Barça B out, whereas Barça were running on fumes after pushing themselves to the limit in search of the equaliser. And so it went to penalties.

PENALTY SHOOTOUT

1-0 - Akieme scored (BAR)

1-0 - Morgado missed, saved by Peña (BAD)

2-0 - Araujo scored (BAR)

2-1 - Isma Cerro scored (BAD)

3-1 - Cuenca scored (BAR)

3-2 - Concha scored (BAD)

4-2 - Rey Manaj scored (BAR)

4-3 - Corredera scored (BAD)

5-3 - Monchu scored (BAR)