Barça 2-3 Cartagena: Away win now essential

The Barça futsal team have suffered a painful defeat at the Palau Blaugrana, and a frustrating one too because the chances were there even if the required goals were not. Where the home side failed, the visitors did not. Cartagena took their chances when they came through Tomaz, Motta and an own goal from Puigvert, and they have swung home court advantage into their favour with the next game on their home court.

To make matters all the more annoying, Barça took the lead not once but twice in this game through Erick first and Pito second, but fortune refused to shine on them today, and they have no choice but to win the next game in Cartagena. If they don't, then the league title bid is over.

The Palau itself was anything bit at fault. There was an extraordinary atmosphere as the local support did all they could to lift the team. But Cartagena soaked up the pressure and with Barça pushing forward to grab a goal to take the game into overtime, an simply incredible stop by keeper Miquel prevented the game from going to 4-2.

With Catela on as rish goalie, Barça surged forward time and again, hitting the post and golden chances for Matheus, Pito and Adolfo all went astray. In the final instant, it looked like Erick's shot was blocked by a Cartagena arm, but the referee was having none of it, and even when Pito did get the ball over the line, the buzzer had already gone.

So next Thursday, it's off to the Palacio de los Deportes in Cartagena. This tie isn't over yet...

MATCH STATS

BARÇA, 2

CARTAGENA, 3

Barça: Dídac, Matheus, Erick, Touré, Pito, Puigvert, Adolfo, Catela, Antonio, André Coelho, Miquel Feixas (GK). 

Cartagena: Chemi, Bebe, Mellado, Lucão, Waltinho, Tomaz, Motta, Pablo Ramírez, Darío, Jesús, Saura.

Goals: 1-0, Erick (min 13). 1-1, Tomaz (min 15). 2-1, Pito (min 23). 2-2, Motta (min 25). 2-3, Puigvert, OG (min 28).