The Road to the Final

After going 3 games without a win Benidormida travelled to Numancia knowing they had to score an away goal and possibly win to secure a place in the final, and they couldn't have got off to a better start. Reyes back in the team looked in great shape as he jinked down the right beating 2 men, floated a cross in to the back post and Sahar made no mistake with the header, The Numancia players heads were down, and 5 minutes later the heads sunk lower, Reyes played a lovely 1-2 with Sahar and calm as you like finished the move to make it 2-0 on the night.

A flash of hope was quickly dashed as Berenguer missed a penalty and Carlos Bellvis was sent off not long afterwards, another red card followed Ntbiazonkiza's mazy run for the third, Dominga Cisma seeing red, Numancia down to 9 men, the game was all over.

Benidormida for the 2nd season running had made the final, this time the opponents would be Hammarby in the San Siro.


The next match was a disappointment a 1-1 draw with Goteborg, again after taking the lead, making the game against Racing Santander a must win match.

With this in mind Gibney made some changes to the formation Ntibazonkiza moved to the left, reyes out wide left and Gokcek advancing forward in the centre of midfield.

Santander got off to a flyer, Benidormida caught flat at the back and Tchite finished well 1on1 with Ivarov.

The second half couldn't surely get any worse, and it didn't, 3 minutes in and Jose found Reyes with a lovely pass he beat 2 men, and beat the outstretched keeper.

Benidormida pressed forward and got a FK just on the edge, Reyes whipped it in, Ntibazonkiza gets a flick and it's deflected in 2-1.

They had a scent for win now, Grimi played a 1-2 with Jose and floated in a cross, Sahar met the ball and powered it home for a 2 goal lead.

With 8 minutes to go the game was all over, a fine 1 touch passing move between Gokcek, Jose to Sahar saw the Israeli poke the ball into the net, for a fantastic 4-1 victory, is this the result they needed.


The next game against Crvena Zvezda was a massive match, with River Plate and Cluj playing the chance to go top or at least second was at hand, 2 quick goals was all the match offered, Sahar's glancing header put the Spaniards ahead after 6 minutes but Cleo struck back 4 minutes later after a slick passing move to equalise, and the game fizzled out till the last minute, sub Loic Remy jinked and weaved in the box and was brought down.
Vederson had the chance to step up and win the game in injury time....but he missed. a disappointing draw.

CLUJ and RIVER had drawn, so Benidormida had missed the chance to go top of the league.



The next match was just as important the trip to the island of Malaga could prove pivotal in the chase for Division 1, a victory for Malaga would see them leapfrog into 3rd and Benidormida out of the promotion places.

And what a start for Gibney's side within 11 minutes they were 2-0 up both goals for talisman Reyes, the first a header from Vederson's cross, the second after a neat pass from Sahar, Reyes made no mistake.

Sahar made the game safe after 29 minutes glancing a header in from Reyes corner, Malaga got one back but it was not enough and Benidormida move to 2nd place with a victory.

With 3 games to go Benidormida find themselves on the same points as River Plate, and in the 2nd last game River Plate come to Benidorm for what could be the league decider.