UD Ibiza vs Peña Deportiva: it’s a good thing it was a friendly match

Paco Jémez was unhappy with yesterday’s friendly match between UD Ibiza and Peña Deportiva at the Can Misses Stadium (1-1). The light blue team was unable to defeat a team from a lesser division, but center Juan Ibiza saved the day by scoring in stoppage time. Marc de Val had given the Peñistas the lead in the closing stretch of a match designed to keep the competitive rhythm going owing to the national soccer break, which did not leave the Second Division squad in a good mood.

Paco Jémez avoided making any public statements following the match. Despite the fact that he was supposed to speak to the media in attendance, the coach chose not to make a remark following a derby that the highest representative of Pitiuso soccer did not approve of.

The Córdoba-born coach, who had recently won his first two professional matches with UD Ibiza (1-2 against Fuenlabrada and 6-2 against Alcorcón), suffered his first defeat in the Ibizan coliseum yesterday. Fortunately, it was a friendly encounter, because Peña Deportiva was leading the scoreboard until the 90th minute, and the club is battling to qualify for the ‘play-off’ for promotion to the First RFEF.

Manolo González’s team recovered from the terrible defeat experienced last Sunday against Formentera, who won 0-3 in Santa Eulària, and scarcely gave chances to the eleventh classified of LaLiga SmartBank during the first half. La Peña, unlike UD Ibiza, made only five substitutions and rotated players in the second half.

Paco Jémez, on the other hand, fielded two distinct squads in each half. He began the game with Germán Parreño in goal, Fran Grima, Goldar, Morillas, and Escobar in defense, Pape Diop and Manu Molina in midfield, Ekain, Herrera, and Nono in the second line of attack, and Guerrero as the most forward player. Despite having the upper hand in the game, they were unable to create clear damaging opportunities against the Santa Eulalia block. After their spectacular display against Alcorcón, the Celestes appeared anesthetized in three-quarters of the field yesterday.

With Jémez on the bench, Ekain was the only one to put Javi Seral’s gloves to the test with a strong shot but too focused in the final stages of the first act.

The former Rayo Vallecano coach chose Lex Domínguez, Cifuentes, Juan Ibiza, Rubén, Javi Vázquez; Javi Pérez, Appin, Miki Villar, Bogusz, Davo, and Castel for the second half. Javi Lara was also introduced in the 70th minute.