Lucena leave Chapín as joint leaders against a great Xerez side

Photo: Diario Xerecista

A goal from Sergio García a minute from time gave Ciudad de Lucena victory (0-1) in front of 7,832 spectators, in a match Xerez CD dominated from start to finish and in which Abel Segovia's side hit the crossbar twice and saw another effort cleared off the line.

Chapín went unrewarded on matchday seven. Xerez carried the weight of the match for ninety minutes, created chances in both halves and conceded almost nothing at the back, but once again ran into their big problem this season: a lack of goals. Ciudad de Lucena, who only troubled Pantoja on a couple of occasions, took advantage of a scramble in the 89th minute to take all three points.

The same eleven, with Zequi for Zelu

Abel Segovia repeated the eleven that earned a point last weekend away to Betis Deportivo, with a single enforced change: Zequi Díaz came in for the injured Zelu. Jaime Fernández, Julito and Chuma formed the attacking line, with Raúl López and Mario Peregrina in midfield.

A dominant first half without reward

Xerez came out with intensity, spreading the pitch wide when building from the back and going for goal as soon as they won the ball in midfield. After five minutes, a run by Guille Campos down the right ended with a Jaime Fernández cross that Zequi sent over. Before the quarter-hour mark, Mario Peregrina played Chacartegui in with a through ball, but Chuma could not get a clean finish on his cross.

The first warning from the visitors came before the half-hour: a cross from Migue on the left took a touch off Isra Cano and almost caught Pantoja out. It was the exception. With Raúl López in control of midfield, Xerez kept attacking down both flanks, although their crosses found no one to finish them. The teams went in goalless at half-time, with the home fans giving their side an ovation.

Crossbar, a goal-line clearance and the crossbar again

The second half began in the same way. In the first minute, Chacartegui pounced on a rebound from a Zequi corner and smashed his shot against the crossbar. In the 53rd minute, a right-footed effort from Zequi beat Hugo, but Rafa Gálvez cleared it off the line. Lucena's only response was a weak shot from Migue from the edge of the area that Pantoja gathered.

Photo: Diario Xerecista

With twenty minutes left, Segovia took a risk: Rubén Mesa and Fali came on for Zequi and Moi, and Chuma and Rubén Mesa played together up front for the first time this season. The change brought Xerez's clearest chance, a lay-off from Chuma for Jaime Fernández, whose angled shot went inches wide of the post. Later, Fali found Chacartegui with a 40-metre pass, without a final finish, and Hugo kept out a shot from Rubén Mesa.

Photo: Diario Xerecista

Five minutes from time, Chuma headed a Raúl López cross against the crossbar, and shortly afterwards Hugo again denied Rubén Mesa, who had turned inside the six-yard box.

The blow in the 89th minute

Just when a draw seemed the likely outcome, a scramble left the ball loose inside the area and Sergio García, who had come on in the 77th minute, scored the 0-1. Stoppage time was not enough. Chapín, who had pushed their side on all match, gave the team a round of applause despite the disappointment.

In their three matches with Abel Segovia on the bench, Xerez have scored three goals and conceded three. After seven matchdays they have 6 points; Ciudad de Lucena move up to 14.

Match facts

Xerez CD: Pantoja; Guille Campos, Moi (Fali, 67'), Manu Galán, Chacartegui; Raúl López, Mario Peregrina (Ismael, 78'); Jaime Fernández (Óscar Lorenzo, 83'), Julito, Zequi (Rubén Mesa, 67') and Chuma.

Ciudad de Lucena: Hugo; Ale Benítez, Rafa Gálvez, Pavón (Porro, 74'), Ortiz, Alberto, Isra Cano (Sergio García, 77'), Manu Molina, Migue (Adrián, 74'), Hugo Fuente (Diego Canty, 62') and Diego Vargas (Joseliyo, 62').

Goal: 0-1 (89') Sergio García.

Referee: Cándido Rodríguez Tavio (Canary Islands committee). He booked Julito (39'), Chuma (51'), Pantoja (79') and Manu Galán (93') for Xerez CD, and Joseliyo (69') and Porro (83') for Ciudad de Lucena.

Notes: seventh-matchday fixture in Group 4 of the Segunda RFEF, played at Chapín in front of 7,832 spectators.