Xerez pay for their physical toll and concede a draw against Betis Deportivo (1-1)

Betis Deportivo 1 — 1 Xerez CD

Photo: Diario Xerecista

A direct free kick from Chuma made history at the Ciudad Deportiva Luis del Sol and Rica Funes levelled the scoreline. The referee drove the azulinos to distraction, as they protested two penalties in the verdiblanco box, one on Julito and another on Chuma

SEVILLE. Anyone who came to Seville expecting resistance found a Xerez CD full of character. Abel Segovia’s side took away the leader’s clean-sheet record, but accumulated fatigue prevented them from taking all three points. The Jerez side was in control for much of the match, and the Betis reserve team, which had still not conceded a goal, had to wait until the closing stages to secure the draw. The visitors were also left with the impression that the referee had influenced the game: two incidents in the home box, one on Julito and another on Chuma, both claimed as penalties, went unpunished.

Segovia reshapes the attack

The Seville-born coach made changes in the creative zone and up front. An injury ruled out Zequi, whose place was taken by Jaime Fernández, until then an impact substitute and now making his first start. Chuma, scorer of the winning goal against Tenerife B, also started and sent Rubén Mesa to the bench. Julito continued behind the striker, Zelu stayed on the left flank and Raúl López shared the midfield with Mario Peregrina, who was gaining prominence. The back line was unchanged: Guille Campos, Moi, Manu Galán and Chacartegui, with Pantoja in goal once again.

The intention had been announced in the build-up and was carried out from the opening whistle: the azulinos wanted the ball and pressed high to unsettle the build-up play of an opponent, coached by Fragoso, that took more risks than it should have.

Photo: Diario Xerecista

Pantoja, the first protagonist

The first scare came from the home side. A cross from Ian ran across the six-yard box without anyone getting a touch until Antonio González, at the far post, struck dangerously. Pantoja, with a prodigious save, prevented the 0-1. Before that, Xerez had already tested the waters with a couple of runs from Jaime Fernández and a cross-shot from Moi following a free kick.

Chuma’s strike

On the right, Jaime Fernández was a nightmare for the verdiblanco defence. On one of his forays, Julito went down inside the box looking for a penalty that González Rodríguez did not award. Shortly afterwards, the same winger won a free kick from Ian Forns on the edge of the area and Chuma, from there, placed a perfect shot that found the net. It was the 24th minute and the first time Betis Deportivo had seen their goal breached in this league.

With the lead, Segovia’s plan kept working: high pressing, ball recoveries and quick transitions. Several times Xerez broke with a numerical advantage, although the final pass was not as precise as the chance required.

The loss of Zelu

Just past the half-hour mark, Zelu put his hand to his left thigh and had to leave the pitch, with Isma Gutiérrez coming on in his place. The setback forced a reshuffle. Betis only responded with a shot from Enzo that went just wide of the post, and Xerez went into the break ahead, with the feeling that they could have had a bigger lead.

A second half of missed chances

Straight after the restart, Peregrina won the ball back, drove forward decisively and played it to Jaime Fernández, who set up Chuma. The latter’s effort went over. A little later, another recovery by Raúl López, one of the best players on the pitch, left Peregrina with an identical opportunity, and the outcome was the same.

Julito could have put the game beyond reach when he was about to go one-on-one with De Pablo, but Rubén de Sá intercepted at the last moment. After that, Curro Macías won the duel against him with an impeccable one-on-one. The reserve side, forced to take risks, left gaps, and the game turned into an exchange of blows.

Photo: Diario Xerecista

The equaliser and the final stretch

With just over twenty minutes left to play, Segovia rested Chuma and Jaime Fernández, both exhausted, and turned to Rubén Mesa and Óscar Lorenzo. Meanwhile, tension was rising on the pitch: the azulino team claimed a second penalty, this time on Chuma, which was not given either, and the atmosphere ended up unsettling Segovia’s men.

In that context, Rica Funes, who had just come on, received the ball on the edge of the area and unleashed a shot that beat Pantoja. Xerez, sitting too deep, gave him space and time. It was 1-1 in the 68th minute.

From then on, the reserve side threw everything forward. Sosu tried a left-footed shot that went wide and Julito, exhausted, missed in a one-on-one. Pantoja shone again with a great dive to stop a powerful shot from Emmanuel, and Manu Galán, on the ground, blocked a venomous effort from Enzo in the last dangerous play. The azulinos held on to the draw, with a very creditable point in the bag before hosting Ciudad de Lucena at Chapín and, after that, Marbella.

Match details

Betis Deportivo: Álvaro de Pablo; Rubén de Sá (Masqué, 85'), Curro Macías, Emmanuel, Ian Forns (De Roa, 85'); Migue Romero, Enzo, Corralejo (Rica, 56'), Antonio González (Rafa Oya, 79'), Borja Alonso (Sosu, 56') and Rodrigo Marina.

Xerez CD: Pantoja; Guille Campos, Moi, Manu Galán, Chacartegui; Raúl López, Mario Peregrina (Jaime López, 79'), Jaime Fernández (Óscar Lorenzo, 63'), Zelu (Isma Gutiérrez, 32'), Julito and Chuma (Rubén Mesa, 63').

Goals: 0-1 (24') Chuma. 1-1 (68') Rica Funes.

Referee: Johan González Rodríguez, from the Tenerife committee. He booked Ian Forns and Rafa Oya for the home side, and Mario Peregrina, Jaime Fernández and Chacartegui for Xerez.

Notes: Matchday six of Group 4 of Segunda RFEF, played at the Ciudad Deportiva Luis del Sol, with a large presence of azulino fans.