Sunday, August 30, 2009

Xerez day of defeat

Xerez's first-ever game in the Primera Division ended in disappointment as they slipped to defeat against Real Mallorca and also had two players sent off.

Sixty-two years after the club was founded, Xerez finally clinched a place in the top flight after winning the Segunda Division title last season, but it was not to be a happy debut for the Andalusian outfit.

The dismissal of Leandro Gioda for a second booking in the 40th minute put Xerez on the back foot and Mallorca took full advantage to take the points thanks to second-half goals from Aritz Aduriz and Tuni.

There was no way back for Xerez after that and Jose Angel Ziganda's side lost a second player to a red card late on when Carlos Calvo was handed his marching orders after also picking up a second yellow.

The defeat was tough on Xerez, who started the match well and continued to create chances even when they were a man down, and despite the defeat they can take encouragement for the coming campaign.

Most of the early attacking was done by the visitors, and Abel Gomez had a great chance to put Xerez ahead in the 12th minute but he could not direct his half-volley on target with only Dudu Aouate to beat.

Gomez then saw another effort loop agonisingly over the bar after Momo's cross from the left had caused problems, before Mallorca created their first chance in the 29th minute, Victor Casadesus firing straight at Renan Brito from seven yards.

That was a decent opening for Mallorca, and Xerez can consider themselves somewhat fortunate not to have fallen a goal behind.

The visitors were not so lucky five minutes before the break though when Argentinian centre-back Gioda picked up the second of two bookings following a challenge near the halfway line.

Inevitably with a man advantage, Mallorca started to feature more strongly as an attacking force in the second half and Aduriz blazed over before Gonzalo Castro was denied by a goal-saving diving block by Renan following a jinking run.

The hosts were not to be denied in the 57th minute though as last season's top scorer Aduriz gave them the lead.

Tuni floated a teasing cross into the area and Aduriz climbed between his marker and goalkeeper to hammer a powerful header into the top corner.

Mallorca almost lost their lead just 60 seconds later, however, as Xerez created a great chance for the unmarked Giancarlo Maldonado, whose left-footed shot was well saved by Aouate.

That proved to be key moment, as a minute later Mallorca were celebrating their second goal, and with it the points were virtually theirs.

Tuni and Aduriz were again involved, with Tuni playing a one-two with the former Athletic Bilbao striker before the left winger's cross-shot took a deflection off a Xerez defender before flying over the stranded Renan and into the net.

Even though the game was slipping away from them, Xerez still pushed forward and they deserved a goal as they went close three times in quick succession, Aouate brilliantly tipping over Victor Sanchez's shot, Alex Bergantinos having a header cleared off the line and Francis Perez volleying wide.

It was not to be for Xerez though, and they suffered another blow late on when Calvo picked up his second yellow for handball.

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