Cartagena 3-4 Barça: Copa del Rey Champions!

The Barça futsal team claimed the Copa del Rey title for the eighth time on Sunday in Antequera with a 4-3 extra time victory over Cartagena. The win was dedicated to captain Sergio Lozano who picked up a serious knee injury in the semi final success over Mallorca Palma Futsal. 

Lozano cheered on his team from the stands and his team mates responded handing the futsal section their third trophy of the season following wins in the Copa Catalunya and the Spanish Super Cup. 

A goal from Pito with just 29 seconds remaining in the first half of extra time was enough to give Barça the trophy in a thrilling in which Cartagena came back from 2-0 and 3-2 down to take the game into an extra period. 

First half dominance

Cartagena came out to press in the game but Barça were the ones who had the better of the early exchanges. Ferrao was the most threatening and he dedicated his opening strike on six minutes to his injured team mate and friend Lozano. Ferrao enjoyed chances to put the blaugranes further head before the break but it was Dyego who made it 2-0 right on the stroke of half time. 

Cartagena come back

Barça's opponents came out committed in the second half and blaugrana keeper Dídac was forced into action more than once as Cartagena sought to come from behind. Motta converted a double penalty to halve the deficit and then Antonio put the ball past his own keeper to make it 2-2. Ferrao gave Barça the lead again with just two minutes of normal time remaining but another own goal, this time Coelho, sent the game into extra time at 3-3.

Pito wins it 

The blaugranes did not let their heads drop in extra time and Pito turned brilliantly before shooting home on 43 minutes to make it 4-3. The celebrations showed confidence and the blaugranes held on in the rest of the extra period to take a deserved victory and an eighth Copa del Rey title. Congratulations! 

MATCH STATS

CARTAGENA, 3

BARÇA, 4

Cartagena: Raúl, Bebe, Lucao, Mellado, Waltinho -starting five- Motta, Juanan, J. Mínguez, Meira, Pablo Ramírez, Juanpi, Jesús.

Barça: Dídac, Antonio, Marcenio, Matheus, Sergio González -starting five- Ferrao, André Coelho, Pito, Adolfo, Dyego, Ortiz, Catela.

Goals: 0-1, Ferrao (min 6). 0-2, Dyego (min 20). 1-2, Motta (min 29). 2-2, Antonio, o.g. (min 33). 2-3, Ferrao (min 38). 3-3, André Coelho, o.g. (min 39). 3-4, Pito (min 43).