Barça 5-3 Cartagena: Good start to the final
First point from the best-of-five games final series goes to Barça with this 5-3 defeat of Cartagena at the Palau Blaugrana. Goals by Adolfo, Matheus, Pito, Touré and Antonio set them on their way as the blaugranes went 5-1 up, but Cartagena fought to the end, making it 5-3 at the final whistle.
The Catalans will have the chance to go 2-0 up in the series before travelling to Cartagena, and the Palau crowd can provide that vital support to get the job done, kickoff 9.30pm CEST 19 June.
Clinical scoring and Dídac on form
The best possible start to the first game in the final series saw the blaugranes regain possession on the first play that ended up with Touré, Martel and Adolfo combining for the latter to opening the scoring (1-0, min 1). Matheus then scored the second after a superb bit of individual play and a well-placed finish (2-0, min 6).
This efficiency in front of goal was aided by Dídac Plana showing great form in goal, much to the visitor's frustration. His opposite number Chemi also managed to prevent the blaugranes from going further ahead. Ultimately, Waltinho managed to break through the defence before the break after a well-worked move (2-1, min 19).
Barça score more...
The second half began as the first, with a Barça goal, this time by Pito, also after a well-worked move (3-1, min 21). Shortly afterwards Touré finished wonderfully from an Erick pass to extend the lead (4-1, min 23) and within five minutes, Antonio had finished a quick counterattack, assisted by Martel (5-1, min 27).
...but suffer to earn the first point
More goals could have been scored, but Chemi stopped some good blaugrana shots that could have sealed victory. Cartagena reacted though, and a two-minute brace by Motta made things more exciting with seven minutes still to play (5-3, min 33).
The visitors tried using fly keeper, with the risks it entails, while Barça aimed to make the most of the situation, but the scoreline remained unchanged and the first point of the series was claimed by the home side in a good start to the final.
MATCH STATS
BARÇA 5
CARTAGENA 3
Barça: Dídac, Adolfo, Eric Martel, Erick, Touré - starting five - Pito, Sergio González, Sergio Lozano, Matheus, Antonio.
Cartagena: Chemi, Mouhoudine, Cortés, Mellado, Pablo Ramírez - starting five - Ossamanmusa, Gon Castejón, Tomaz, Motta, Jesús Izquierdo, Linhares, Waltinho.
Goals: 1-0, Adolfo (min 1). 2-0, Matheus (min 6). 2-1, Waltinho (min 19). 3-1, Pito (min 21). 4-1, Touré (min 23). 5-1, Antonio (min 27). 5-2, Motta (min 31). 5-3, Motta (min 33).
Referees: Santander Flamarique, Urdanoz Apezteguia. Yellow cards for Martel, Sergio González and Erick from Barça, and Chemi, Pablo Ramírez, Mellado and Ossamanmusa from Cartagena.
Attendance: 3067