Intercity delivered a resounding 1-3 victory over Nàstic this Saturday at Tarragona Stadium. The black-clad side claimed their second away win of the season, following their league opener triumph, while aiming to bounce back from last week’s setback against Royal Murcia, and restoring momentum for the clash with Soria vs Numancia.
It was a tough afternoon for the home team as Intercity executed a smart, coordinated game plan. Even though Siviero’s side created several promising chances, Intercity was precise in every phase of play, timing their presses and transitions to perfection. The visitors opened the scoring in a balanced spell, and their efficiency in front of goal helped them secure a magnificent first half. They also demonstrated resilience, weathering pressure and finishing with authority when it mattered most.
For the visitors, the defensive pairing of Galvez and Alvarez started the match, marking the first appearance of this combination this season and contributing well to keeping the opposition at bay.
During the opening quarter of an hour, the game was evenly fought, with Nàstic exploiting counter-attacks to threaten the hosts. Manuel Herrera came close to shaping the mood of the early minutes, suggesting a competitive duel ahead.
In the 22nd minute, Intercity converted the first clear chance to tilt the balance. Etxaniz delivered a precise through ball and finished decisively one-on-one against Manu García, putting the guests ahead.
From there, the locals pressed to level, but Xemi’s corner in the 25th minute doubled the lead, making the score 0-2 and signaling that the interval would likely be a tough one for the home team.
Moments later, Angong almost added a third in the 28th minute, underscoring the visitors’ threat on the counter and the growing difficulty for Nàstic to stem the tide.
Quintanilla made a crucial intervention on the line in the 34th minute to prevent a third goal, as Alicante’s offense continued to surge, revealing the depth of Siviero’s squad.
In the second half, the dynamics shifted as Nàstic pushed higher up the pitch in search of goals. They came close with two attempts in the 59th and 67th minutes, both ruled offside, which kept Intercity’s lead intact.
There were periods when the home side gained the upper hand and pressed hard to narrow the gap. Pablo Fernández whipped in a dangerous cross from the right in the 69th minute, and Manu Herrera produced a remarkable reflex save to deny a quick reply, keeping the score at 0-2. Shortly after, Gorostidi’s shot was saved as well, underscoring Intercity’s solid defense and willingness to ride the storm.
Nàstic’s tempo intensified, putting Siviero’s men under real pressure at times as they fought to preserve a clean sheet. The Catalan outfit created hope, but Xemi’s long-range effort finally sealed the inevitability of a 0-3 deficit against Manu García.
With ten minutes remaining, the Tarragonans refused to give up and continued pressing to salvage something from the match. In a late sequence, a contentious moment unfolded when Kecojevic earned a red card in stoppage time following a penalty decision, as Bonilla converted to make it 1-3.
Bonilla finished the scoring and helped Intercity secure a decisive victory that underscored their offensive efficiency and tactical discipline.
The next day, Intercity is scheduled to host Real Sociedad B, continuing their campaign with another strong test on home soil.
DATA SHEET:
TARRAGONA NASTIC: Manu García, Trilles, Robert (Andy Escudero, 54), Aarón Rey (Pablo Fernández, 46), Montalvo (Gorostidi, 54), Quintanilla, Nil, Guillermo (Bonilla, 68), Tirlea, Montes Arce and Álvarez.
INTERCITY: Manu Herrera, Emilio Nsue (Cristian Herrera, 75), Rafa Gálovez, Álvaro Pérez, Ferroni, Angong, Undabarrena (Kecojevic, 75), Xemi, Pol Roigé (Guillem, 63), Aarón Piñán (Soldevila, 52), Etxaniz (Belloti, 75).
JUDGE: Salvador Lax Franco. Nàstic received yellow cards for Trilles, Nil and Pablo Fernández, while Intercity’s Pol Roigé, Soldevila and Manu Herrera were booked. A direct red was shown to Kecojevic in the 90th minute.
GOALS: 0-1, 22 minutes, Etxaniz. 0-2, 25 minutes, Xemi. 0-3, Xemi, 80th minute. 1-3, 91 minutes, Bonilla penalty.
STADIUM: Nou Estadi Costa Dorada