Intercity continues the search for the First RFEF, and the reality is clear: what won games a season ago now costs more. Elevating the category means higher difficulty. The once-favored players in black had the edge in their clash with Sabadell, but in the Second RFEF the points would have tilted toward Alicante. Yet the Catalans responded with pride and refined football, turning the scoreboard around and teaching the new pupil that to advance along the LaLiga ladder he must keep elevating his game to stay ahead.
The opening thirty minutes at Nova Creu Alta were chaotic, a tense tilt that resembled a high-stakes gamble. Luck favored Intercity early, then swung to Sabadell, but a dramatic shift soon placed the Catalans in control.
Intercity sees the light again (2-1)
In a four-minute spell Alberto Fernandez stretched too far to control the ball, his hand brushing his right thigh. He was one of the attacking engines of the squad, and the diagnosis arrived quickly: an injury and a substitution. After both sides settled the scare, the Alicante club grabbed the lead through a measured, old-school counterpunch.
Pol Roigé, a Sabadell product from 2014 to 2016, recalled a sequence where Etxaniz shielded the ball against the goalkeeper, laid a neat pass to Nsue on the wing, and Roigé finished with a powerful left-footed strike that the keeper could not stop. The defense argued offside, but Intercity’s numbers seemed ready to strike. The visitors found the back of the net with composure, and the goalkeeper could do little to prevent it.
The momentum appeared to tilt away from Sabadell as the match wore on. Manuel Herrera Pau Víctor produced a crucial save to deny Sabadell an equalizer, a close-range effort that kept the scoreline in Intercity’s favor. Sabadell’s first foray down the left flank—toward Intercity’s right—brought a renewed threat: dangerous crosses and sharp finishing. The Catalans took the initiative, pressuring the Intercity defense and testing the Madrid-born goalkeeper with sharp touches and smart runs. The first decisive duel was won by Sabadell, but it would not define the afternoon.
As the game resumed, Sergi García stepped in for the injured Alberto Fernández. In a five-minute burst, the scoreline flipped from 0-1 to 2-1 in favor of Intercity, a rapid-fire change that left Sabadell stunned.
Intercity shares fell 71% in 2022
From the moment the ball was back in play at 1-1, García delivered a superb pass to Moha from the left flank, and a moment later a penalty appeal created a sting in the afternoon. A miscue from a teammate allowed Adán to appear in a second line position, and the actions drew a free kick that could have altered the course. The decision at the end favored Sabadell in that moment, but the field soon decided otherwise. A bold, precise finish from Pal Víctor tested the goalkeeper and clanged off the post, denying Sabadell a deserved equalizer.
Sabadell mounted a renewed surge, with Paul Víctor once again at the forefront, collecting the ball from the left at a slight angle and driving toward the heart of Intercity’s defense. He shrugged off two defenders and fired a shot that struck the woodwork, ending with the ball in Intercity’s hands instead of the net.
No city ideas
The second half opened with a spark of energy that gradually faded. Cristian Herrera pressed his way through a miscommunication between defenders, while Etxaniz equalized with a header and a finish that hinted at further drama. Sergi Puig answered with a counterpunch of his own, restoring some balance and keeping the contest alive.
The hosts showed resilience, punishing poorly executed touches and mismatches, with Pau Víctor and Astals turning the flanks into highways of danger. Manu Herrera’s dribbling from the side kept the defense honest, but Intercity’s shape compressed into its own half as the clock wound down. The visitors went into stubborn defense, looking to avoid another costly concession.
The minutes wore on and Gabri’s men became more cautious, yet Siviero’s team still needed a breakthrough to offset the early deficit. The move that ended the match materialized when Intercity pressed high on the right, and a late cross found Etxaniz in a dangerous position. That final charge, however, did not materialize into another goal, leaving the scoreboard as it stood. The youngest player, Raúl Sanchís, was brought on for injury time to shore up the midfield, but the ball drifted into the clouds and the red and black party remained incomplete.
DATA SHEET
SABADELL: Sergi Puig; Morgado, Altimira, Moha (Gualda, 71′), Pelayo, Pau Víctor, Vergés, Adán (Guillem Molina, 58′), Alberto Fernández (Sergi García, 6′), Álex Sala (Armando, 71′), Ascals.
INTERCITY: Manu Herrera; Nsue (Guillem Jaime, 78′), Álvaro Pérez, Rafa Gálvez, Ferroni, Undabarrena (Carmona, 78′), Bellotti (Angong, 64′), Xemi (Soldevilla, 64′), Pol Roigé, Cristian Herrera (Raúl Sanchís, 78′) and Etxaniz.
GOALS: 0-1 (12′) Pol Roigé. 1-1 (22′) Man. 2-1 (26′) Paul Víctor.
REFEREE: Etayo Herrera (Basque). Pau Víctor warned Bellotti, Pol Roigé, Álex Sala, Undabarrena, Vergés, Gualda and Armando.
STADIUM: Nova Creu Alta (Sabadell).