El Jimbee takes on ElPozo (5:45pm) and tries to get past the first round for the third time in tournament history
After a somewhat irregular start to the second round, with only one win in the last four games and draws against theoretically inferior rivals such as Betis (3-3), Antequera (2-2) and Manzanares (2-2), Jimbee reached the Spanish Cup at a decisive moment of the season. Two cup titles are up for grabs in just twelve days and in both Duda’s men are just three games away from winning the title.
The Spanish Cup is a tournament that has been elusive for Cartagena’s futsal. His story is full of failures and very little joy. They entered the tournament nine times and fell seven times in the first stage. There are only two honorable historical exceptions where the semifinals were reached. Two years ago, in a trophy still at half throttle due to the pandemic, a last gasp goal from Andresito gave his team victory over Valdepeñas (2-1). In the second round they lost to Inter (0-2).
But the most extraordinary story to date took place in 2004, in the donor debut of what was then still called Polaris World. Those then trained by Carlos Sánchez devoured their eternal rival in a night for history. A goal from David Marín led to a victory (6-7) that even gave its name to a support club (Santiago 6-7).
Duda’s, who trained butchers at the time, hopes to appeal to that spirit. They know how hard it is to take on one of the fittest rivals in the entire league. They traveled to Granada at noon yesterday with all the players available for the Brazilian coach, including Juanan. The pivot, who suffered a minor ankle sprain last week, has already recovered. At night they watched the Barça-Valdepeñas match.
Jimbee won the last three matches against their eternal enemy: last season in the league game in Murcia (1-2) and the two played this year in the President’s Cup and in the Palacio de los Deportes in Cartagena, both 2-1. Due to the precedents, an extremely even duel is coming that could be decided by a detail.
ElPozo always moves like a fish in water in the ‘KO’ competition. The Murcians are used to reaching very advanced stages and fighting for the title of cupbearer. Four winners feature on a list of winners that has not increased since 2010. Since that victory against Lobelle Santiago (3-2), they have lost five finals. Most painful of all happened last season, when a controversial penalty shootout against Barcelona ended with Taynán being suspended for half a season.
The Murcians, who started the season in relegation places and went down in the first round of the Copa del Rey against Zaragoza, from Segunda, have straightened out the course in the regular season. They count five wins in a row and arrive in Granada with the illusion in style. Marcel (10), Rafa Santos (9), Gadeia (9) and Bruno Taffy (8) are the goal threats for the butchers, who add more gunpowder with Darío, Taynan or Felipe Valerio (6). Jimbee will threaten the Murcians with the presence of Luçao (14), Motta (9), Mellado (8), Waltinho and Ramírez (7).
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
