Girona FC stamped their class in style and put up a enthralling show for the Kochi crowd, as they beat Melbourne City FC 6-0 in the second match of the LaLiga World on July 27 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Their performance and the second 6-0 scoreline of the tournament clearly showed the huge gulf in class between football in Europe, Australia and the ISL.
Melbourne City FC had made four changes to their starting XI from the match against Kerala Blasters. Star striker Bruno Fornaroli started instead of midfielder Anthony Caceres. The centre-back pair of Bart Schenkeveld and Osama Malik made way for Harrison Delbridge and 17-year-old Mitch Graham. And first-choice goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis made way for his understudy, 37-year-old Eugene Galekovic. The changes at the heart of the defence and in the goal cost them dear as Girona FC had the Melbourne City defence in sixes and sevens right from the start.
Girona looked like the side with more quality as soon as the match kicked-off in front of a sparse crowd in Kochi. But the first shot of the game came from Melbourne City in the fourth minute. Their two-goal hero from the previous game against Kerala Blasters, Riley McGree, took a shot from the edge of the box. It went out for a corner, which was delivered in dangerously. But Girona survived. And, as if to punish Melbourne City for their audacity in landing the first blow, Girona’s vice-captain, and captain on the night, Aday Benitez, blazed forward on a surging solo run. It came to nothing, but Girona had shown their intent.
Over the next few minutes, they played Melbourne City out of the game slowly, with clinical precision. They got their reward in the 11th minute when attacking midfielder Cristian Portugues Manzanera, better known as Portu, was put through on goal. Girona’s No 9, who had scored the winner when they famously beat Real Madrid last season, made no mistake. Six minutes later, he doubled the lead with a delightful finish after being played behind the defence by a smart no-look pass by Manchester City loanee Aleix Garcia.
Girona continued to dominate the game and got a decent chance to extend their lead in the 21st minute. Midfielder Borja Garcia cut in from the left past two defenders, but failed to control the shot which went over the crossbar. But it was not long before Girona scored another one. A splendid cross-field pass from the superb Borja found Aday on the right-wing. He raced forward and delivered the cross into a dangerous area. There was nobody to connect in the middle, but goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic failed to collect the ball and presented Girona’s Honduran striker Anthony Lozano with an easy tap in the 24th minute.
The crowd had built up by then and the drums were now being heard loud and clear. And a clearly pro-Girona crowd were enjoying the Spanish symphony on a beautiful night in Kochi. Melbourne City got no breathing space as Girona were unrelenting in attack. Lozano was guilty of missing an easy chance in the 28th minute and Galekovic partly redeemed himself by making a good save four minutes later. Melbourne City managed to have a sniff at goal in the 34th minute. But midfielder Lachlan Wales, who had found the net against Kerala Blasters, shot just wide. Forward Dario Vidosic was substituted in the 36th minute with midfielder Anthony Caceres. Perhaps, as a result of the tactical switch, Melbourne City seemed more determined now. They managed to stifle Girona’s free-flowing game to an extent as well as put together a few passes themselves.
In the 43rd minute, the Uruguayan, Fornaroli, picked up the ball after it was knocked on from a goal-kick. He raced into the box, but seemed unsure whether to shoot or pass. In the end the ball rolled harmlessly wide of the Girona goal from whichever of the two he attempted. Melbourne City’s renewed efforts perhaps served as a wake-up call to the Catalans and they finished the half strongly by peppering the Melbourne City goal with a string of well-constructed attacks. Girona were clearly in the ascendency and Melbourne City were just about hanging on.
Melbourne City started the second half well and created a good chance early on. But Girona were back on top soon enough. A corner in the 50th minute resulted in their fourth goal. Aleix claimed his second assist of the night with a good delivery from the corner. Centre-back Juan Pedro Ramirez Lopez aka Juanpe rose highest to head home. Girona made four changes in the 63rd minute, one of which brought on their captain, midfielder Alex Granell. As the substitutes were still getting into position, defender Pedro Alcala tested the goalkeeper with an audacious attempt from a free-kick from behind the halfway line.
Melbourne City were just unable to get into the game and hold on to the ball. At the 60-minute mark, they had only about 30 per cent of the possession. Girona got their fifth in the 68th minute. Melbourne City’s first-choice keeper Bouzanis had been subbed in and managed to get a hand on the shot by substitute Yhoan Andzouana. But defender Delbridge was slow to react when the ball rolled free. The Congolese midfielder followed up his own shot to slot the ball home.
All of a sudden, Melbourne City were looking much like Kerala Blasters in the first match, if only more hapless. Girona’s second African player on the pitch, Cameroonian striker Kevin Soni hit the post soon after, as the Spanish team continued to attack, now with an almost brand new team. They scored a sixth in stoppage time, much to the delight of the fans in Kochi, as the scoreline resembled the defeat of Kerala Blasters to Melbourne City. The night ended with the Girona players conducting the fans in a Viking clap.
The result, of course, means that Kerala Blasters can now win the tournament by beating Girona 7-0 in the last match tomorrow!
