Barça 3-4 ElPozo: Liga semifinals bound!

This game kept everyone guessing, with Barça finally sealing a Liga semifinal spot 6-5 on aggregate despite losing 3-4 on the night to ElPozo Murcia. The visitors forced extra time with two very late goals, but Barça scored early and kept the ball to guarantee a semi final spot.

Even start to the game

Both sides had chances at the start of the game, with both Dídac and Juanjo again showing their quality as they did in the first leg. Gradually Barça took control of the game and ElPozo again used the goalkeeper-player tactic to redress the balance.

Good defensive pressure from the away side led to Leo Santana scoring the first goal in the 16th minute. Barça remained in control, however, and with just one minute left in the first half, Adolfo levelled into an empty net after the ball was won back with the keeper upfield.

Barça take the lead, but ElPozo respond

A great start to the second half for Barça, Ferrao scoring the second goal just one minute in after a real team goal involving all five players. Ferrao had the chance to make it three soon after but Juanjo saved. ElPozo clearly knew that a place in the semi final was slipping away, stepping up the intensity all over the pitch and again playing with five outfield players, Fernando levelling the score at 2-2 with a cross shot.

The final three minutes were frantic. The referees blew for a hotly contested penalty, which Marcel scored on 38 minutes. Then with just seconds to go to full time, Gadeia scored to make it 2-4 on the night and force extra time.

Barça control extra time

The fans in the Palau roared throughout the period before extra time and the players clearly responded, Matheus scoring in the first minute to make it 3-4. ElPozo needed two goals to go through but Barça controlled the ball to win 6-5 on aggregate and move into the semifinals to face either FS Valdepeñas or Cartagena.

Tribute to Esquerdinha

After Sergio Lozano had given Esquerdinha the captain's armband for the match as his time at Barça is winding down, the celebratory atmosphere continued post-match when he was joined by his family to receive an emotional send off.

Game stats: 

Barça, 3

ElPozo Múrcia, 4

Barça: Dídac, André Coelho, Dyego, Adolfo, Esquerdinha (c) - starters -. Ferrao, Pito, Lozano, Matheus, Ortiz, Marcenio, Bernat Povill.

ElPozo Múrcia: Juanjo, Gadeia, Fernando(c), Darío, Felipe Valerio, Rafa Santos - starters -. Matteus, Mati Rosa, Marcel, Leo Santana, Alberto García.

Goals: 0-1 Leo Santana (16); 1-1 Adolfo (19); 2-1 Ferrao (21); 2-2 Fernando; 2-3 Marcel (38); 2-4 Gadeia (40); 3-4 Matheus (41)

Referees: Juan José Cordero Gallardo and Pedro Antonio Carrillo Arroyo. Yellow for Coelho (27), Dídac (38), Ferrao (40), Ferrao (46) from Barça and Darío (7) and Rafa Santos (9) from ElPozo