Crucial Intercity win speaks volumes

Castellón's vital 2-1 win away at Intercity left no doubt over the huge strides the team has made over the last 12 months.

406 days. On Saturday, Castellón found themselves making the same trip to Alicante that they had made 406 days prior. They walked out onto the same horrendous pitch, faced the same team, lost a key player to injury (again), and conceded the first goal (again). But it would be no groundhog day. This time, it was comeback day. Moyita and Raul Sanchez put Castellón’s demons to rest at the Estadio Antonio Solana, with two crucial goals to show just how much had changed over a year.

Sometimes improvement is difficult to measure, but sometimes it is easy. The Castellón side that took the pitch on Saturday only featured four players that played last year. The difference in personnel was clear - last year there was no Lottin in midfield, no Gonzalo in goal and no Alberto in defence. But even clearer was the difference in mentality.

When Castellón fell behind after seven minutes last year, Albert Rudé made the first tactical changes 60 minutes later, a centre back for a full back and a midfielder for a winger. Dick Schreuder only needed 120 seconds after conceding to send on attacking winger Nikola Iosifov for wing-back Manu Sánchez, and Jozhua for the injured Salva Ruiz. When Intercity re-established their lead last year after 81 minutes, there was another five minute wait before Jeremy De Leon replaced Calavera in the closing stages.

Crucially, the mentality and urgency that Dick Schreuder has imprinted on this team was on show not just after Intercity scored, but beforehand as well. Castellón dominated possession and field position in the first half, and although it ended goalless, De Miguel and Raul Sánchez had chances early on. The best of the half fell to Douglas, who forced a good save from the Intercity keeper after a delightful floated long ball by Alberto Jimenez. The resulting corner saw Chirino hit the post with a beautifully struck volley that a striker would have been proud of.

Castellón switched off for the first 15 minutes of the second half, which allowed Intercity more of a foothold in the game. Gonzalo saved well from Nsue just five minutes in and shortly after from Moha Traoré. However he couldn’t do anything on the hour mark as an unfortunate injury to Salva Ruiz left the same man with a free run into the area, where he squared the ball to Pol Roigé for an easy finish.

The response from the albinegros was swift - a beautiful free kick curled in from the edge of the box by Moyita restored parity within 10 minutes, and a second chance volley by Raul Sánchez gave them the lead with seven minutes left on the clock. Castellón outlasted a motivated Intercity for the last five minutes to close out a vital three points that maintained their lead at the top of the table.

Castellón are one goal away from equalling Villarreal B’s Primera RFEF goalscoring record with seven games left to play, but that feels like an afterthought. Castellón failed a test, took the same test again a year later, and passed. The improvement is as black and white as their shirts.

CD Castellón: Crettaz, M. Sánchez (Iosifov 62), Alberto, Salva Ruiz (Jozhua 62), Chirino, Lottin (Villahermosa 88), Óscar Gil, R. Sánchez, Moyita, Douglas, De Miguel

Intercity: Gaizka Campos, Guillem, Álvaro Pérez (Konaré 88), Rafa Gálvez, Cristo Romero, Undabarrena, Bellotti (Ceberio 81), Xemi, Pol Roigé, Moha Traoré (Blum 75), Nsue

Goals: Pol Roigé 60, Moyita 68, Rául Sánchez 83

Referee: Martinez Montalban