Match Reports

After last week's storms, surely Malaga would find a bit of nice weather this week when they fly to the Canary Islands for the game at Vecindario in Gran Canaria. Wrong! The "stadium", which has a capacity of less than 4000, is located close to the airport (and indeed just before kick off we can see a Thomsonfly Airbus, carriage down, coming into land close by) and is exposed to the fresh winds of the Atlantic Ocean.

So it was on Saturday night, 9th December 2006, the strong wind was blowing from one end of the pitch to the other. No doubt the weather, and the controversial artificial pitch, will have a bearing on how this match progresses.

Vecindario are a small club and enjoying their most successful period in their history, climbing out of Segunda B last season through the playoffs and achieving La Segunda status for the first time ever. This season has seen them struggle so far to compete with the bigger and brighter lights and they currently occupy bottom spot in the table and look doomed to an almost certain return to the lower league, come the end of the season.

Malaga are also struggling. They have failed to dominate and run away with this league as expected and lurch from game to game with the supporters crying out in anguish after every result. After last week's 3-3 draw at home to Castilla, they will be wanting to leave the Canaries with the three points safely tucked away. In a sequence of games in which the league programme has thrown up six games against the so-called "easy" teams in the division, Lorca (2-2), Ponferridina (1-1), Elche (0-1), Salamanca (1-0) and Castilla (3-3), in the five games so far Malaga has mustered three draws, one defeat and one win, mustering from these five games six points out of fifteen. So even before a ball was kicked, the pessimists amongst us were forecasting yet another draw.

Muniz experimented with a narrow 4-1-2-1-2 for last week's game. It produced three goals from Salva (whose nine goals this season is attracting the attentions of Villarreal) on a wet and windy evening. And so it was the same set up this week in similar conditions, with Hidalgo preferred to OJ Morales in midfield in an otherwise unchanged line-up. Amongst the subs for today's game are Silva (back from suspension) and Counago (back from injury).

Malaga (4-1-2-1-2): Arnau; Jesus Gamez, Cesar Navas, Jesule, Jose Mari; Romero; Hidalgo and Calleja; Jonaton Valle; Salva and Chengue Morales.

Malaga's captain Romero wins the toss and elects to have the strong wind at his back in the first half.

Vecindario are first to show and win a free kick in the first minute. The ball is swerved into the crowded box, Arnau flaps at it and it goes for a corner. The corner swings in on the wind and falls to Axtebal, the Vecindario centre back, in the six yard box. His powerful shot is blocked by Arnau at point blank range. A very early let off for Malaga.

Vecindario are running these early stages and win their second corner in the 3', again on their left. Axtebal again is found at the far post, this time for a free header, but Malaga's defence somehow manage to scramble the ball away.
It's a nervous start for the visitors and they could easily have been 2-0 down already!

In 4' the brollies go up around the ground as the rain comes on, first of all as a persistent drizzle but getting heavier as the game progresses and also the strong wind down the ground is unabated. Not the sunny picture you have of the Canaries!

In 9' more panic in the Malaga defence as they concede yet another corner. From the looping kick, Arnau again tries to connect with his hand but Chengue has to boot the ball over his own bar to safety for yet another corner kick. Hidalgo is on hand for the kick and clears well upfield.

In 16' Malaga's nightmare start continues when, all alone on the edge of his own penalty area, Cesar Numpty, for some reason known only to him, heads the ball along the 18 yard line, instead of out to safety. This has been a characteristic of the giant centre back all season and has led to a number of goals scored against Malaga. Why Muniz continues to play him is beyond my comprehension. Rant over. Vecindario striker Xisco latches onto Cesar Numpty's "pass", runs into the box and drives a powerful shot at goal. The ball luckily comes off Arnau's knees and goes past for a corner. Two corners later and it is again left to Hidalgo to clear the ball upfield. He is becoming Malaga's best defender!

Malaga's narrow tactics mean that all their play is down the centre of the park and the twin strikers Salva and Chengue are not getting any service apart from the occasional long ball punted out of defence in desperation. This is not a very convincing display from the visitors who have failed to string two passes together or even venture into their opponent's half.

Vecindario, though, seem to be playing a more conventional 4-4-2 system with two wide players. Their right winger in particular, Javi Morales, is enjoying himself down the flank and Malaga's young left back, Jose Mari, has to resort to fouling him every time the winger is on the ball. After 25', Jose Mari has committed 6 fouls on the winger to date and must watch his step.

In 28' it's Hidalgo's turn to bring down Javi Morales. The kick is to be taken about 30 yards and is straight in front of goal. Fortunately the wind carries the shot over the bar.

But you get the feeling that it's only a matter of time before Malaga's luck at the back runs out.
In 30' Hidalgo is booked for going in feet first for 50/50 ball.

In 32' another scare for Malaga when Michel slips a pass to Javi Morales on the six yard line near to the touchline. It's a tight angle but the winger gets in his shot and its rising trajectory almost shaves the bar as it goes over.

In 35' Malaga get their first corner. Jonaton Valle chases a lost cause down the left wing. He gets to the ball first but cannot get it under control and it bounces off the right back's legs for a corner. Calleja takes and finds Cesar Navas alone at the back post, but the 8'3" giant misdirects his header wide.

In 37' Malaga celebrate their first shot on target! Don't celebrate too much though. Cesar Navas takes a free kick in his own half. The ball goes high into the air and seems to get caught in the swirl before landing near Chengue. The big Uruguayan swings at it but the effort is weak and is easily mopped up by the home goalkeeper.

The ball seems to be up in the air most of the time with neither side seeming able to control it in the conditions, giving away possession to each other in midfield.

In 43' it's corner number 7 for Vecindario. Chengue concedes another from the kick. Salva (remember him?) gets his head to the second corner and clears to halfway. However the ball is returned immediately and Romero is forced to concede Vecindario's ninth corner. Javi Morales swings the ball in from the right, it hits the outside of the post and goes out for a goal kick.

In 45' Axtebal is the second booking of the game for a foul on Romero. Hidalgo takes the kick and hits the two man wall 10 yards away.

The referee puts us out of our misery and blows for half-time

Vecindario 0 Malaga 0

This has been a woeful first half from Malaga and Vecindario should have been three goals in the lead, with all their pressure, corners and chances.

As the second half commences, the rain is much heavier now. The wind also seems stronger, rendering some brollies as useful as an umbrella in a hurricane. The crowd can been seen cowering under what little shelter is available around the ground

In 52' Counago comes on for Chengue.

In 53' Counago is flattened by Markel, who is booked.

In 57' Sandro replaces Calleja. Despite these changes, or even more so after removing winger Calleja, Malaga persist with the narrow 4-1-2-1-2 formation.

In 58' Vecindario make their first change. On comes striker Raul Borrero for Michel.

The pattern of the game is unchanged with Vecindario continuing to mount attack after attack on the Malaga goal.

In 59' Axtebal, at the far post, gets his head onto yet another free kick from the right, but thankfully from Malaga's point of view, the effort is just wide.

The scrappy nature of the game continues and is marred by constant stoppages; over 30 free kicks in the first hour.

In 63' we see the first flowing move of the game. Vecindario's left winger manages a run down the flank and puts over a great cross into the box. The ball flies over both Jesule and Cesar Navas giving Raul Borrero a free header at the far post. Arnau just watches as the ball goes just over.

In 65' Ernesto comes on for Jonaton Valle. Ernesto is very left footed and normally plays on the wing, so there is a bit of confusion amongst the Malaga players (and the supporters) about what the team's formation should be. It looks like 4-1-3-1-1, with Ernesto wide left of Hidalgo and Sandro in midfield and Counago playing off Salva up front. It's all irrelevant as Malaga still have not mounted any serious attacks on the home goal and the creative and attacking players have largely been superfluous.

In 66' Counago is fouled again near the centre line. Jose Mari takes the kick and the ball loops into the crowded penalty box. The ball goes over the players' heads and the goalkeeper gathers the ball at the second attempt after his initial fumble with Hidalgo charging in.

This is a brief respite for Malaga's defence as Javi Morales continues to torment them and is unlucky with two attempts which go very close.

In 75' a free kick is conceded by Malaga wide on the left by the centre line. The ball is whipped into the box by left back Ruano aiming for the far post, but then seems to change direction in midair and starts to swerve towards the near post. RAUL BORRERO gets his head to it and cleverly back-heads the ball back towards the far post. He catches the defence and Arnau wrong footed and the ball is in the net for Vecindario's opener.

Vecindario 1 Malaga 0

It's a chance created by the wind, but Raul Borrero deserves some credit for directing the ball away from the stunned Malaga defence.

It's all gone pear-shaped for Muniz and his tactics again. Being a goal down and not having had any real chances or shown any attacking flair, it's difficult to see Malaga getting back into the game, let alone take the three points, which, as a promotion seeking team, they should be expecting from this fixture.

The Vecindario fans are euphoric! Malaga is seen as a major scalp in this division and the home supporters must be thinking that they deserve the lead and the win that must surely come.

In 78' we see the first attacking move of the match from Malaga and it's substitute Ernesto who takes the eye with his endeavour. He breaks down the left wing, beats two men and then whips in a dangerous cross into the box for the waiting Salva and Counago. Axtebara has no choice but to head over his own bar.

In 80' Malaga create another chance. Jesus Gamez takes a long throw from the right to Sandro. The tiny playmaker slips the ball to Counago who forces a great save from the goalkeeper as the shot was heading for the top corner.

Then in 82', Malaga's blushes are saved with a freak goal. JOSE MARI, taking a free kick at the half way line, sends the ball high into the air. It loops over all the players and drops sharply behind the goalkeeper standing two yards out and over the line! Let's face it. It was the only way that Malaga were going to score and to be fair, the wind had a strong hand in both goals.

Vecindario 1 Malaga 1

Malaga go all out now to try and snatch an unlikely winner.

In 85' Ernesto again delivers a fine cross into the box which Salva, diving a full stretch, just misses.
In 86' the ball falls twice to Counago in six yard box free for all but his final effort is skied over the bar.
In 87' Javi Morales is taken off for Ciani.
In 88' a free kick to Malaga on the centre line. Jose Mari takes and tries again but this time the goalkeeper is alert and makes the save.
In 89' Ruano is booked for a foul on Jesus Gamez. Our new free kick specialist Jose Mari takes the kick just inside his own half. The ball bounces once in front of Hidalgo who hits it just wide of the near post.
In 90' the last chance again falls to Malaga who have created all of their opportunities in the last eight minutes of the game. Again it's Jose Mari with a free kick. He finds Cesar Navas alone at the far post. With all the time in the world and with the goal at his mercy, he decides to head along the six yard line! Salva is the intended recipient, but it comes as a surprise to the striker and the chance is lost.

Full time Vecindario 1 Malaga 1

Another disappointing display and result from Malaga who are definitely underachieving big time this season. The negative tactics, the inability to harness the wind and driving rain to their advantage, to use the experience of their established players and what seems to be a lack of ambition against sides which should on paper be demolished in the wake of Malaga's superiority is very depressing for us supporters.

We can only look forward to the next game and seek some respite from all this misery. Next week, Malaga are at home to another team from the Canaries, Tenerife. Let's hope for three points from this one. Never fear, Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there.