CD Estepona collapsed in the second half and suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of CA Antoniano (4-1)

CD Estepona suffered a tough loss this Sunday at the Lebrija Municipal Stadium, where they fell 4-1 to CA Antoniano in the match corresponding to Matchday 9 of Group IV of the Segunda Federación. Manolo Sánchez’s team took the lead thanks to a goal by Pablo Aguilar, but the home team managed to tie the score before halftime and sealed the victory in a second half to forget, scoring three goals in just six minutes.

The loss leaves the Rojillos with 12 points, though they remain close to the promotion playoff spots. The team will have another chance to bounce back next week when they host Tamaraceite at the Francisco Muñoz Pérez Stadium.

A Minute of Silence in Memory of the Victims of the Toledo Train Accident

Before the start of the match, a minute of silence was observed in memory of the victims of the train accident in Toledo. In addition, both teams wore black armbands as a sign of respect and mourning.

We at CD Estepona Fans wish to express our deep sorrow over this tragedy and extend our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims. All our love and solidarity go out to those affected, as well as our appreciation to the emergency response teams working to address this tragedy. We also want to send our best wishes for a speedy recovery to all those who were injured.

May they rest in peace.

Pablo Aguilar gives Estepona the lead, but Nando equalizes on a free kick

The match began with intensity, and CA Antoniano saw two of its players receive yellow cards within the first seven minutes. Estepona capitalized on its early chances and was rewarded in the 10th minute. Pablo Aguilar put the red-and-whites ahead, making it 0-1 and giving the fans who had traveled to Lebrija reason for optimism.

However, the visitors’ joy was short-lived. Just five minutes later, in the 15th minute, Nando tied the game for the home team with a free kick that made it 1-1.

From there, the match became more disjointed, with numerous stoppages and yellow cards. Estepona struggled to maintain possession, and the match went into halftime with everything still to be decided.

Six Fateful Minutes That Sealed the Match

After halftime, Maxi Benites came on for Titi and Ballarín replaced Ariel Herrero in Manolo Sánchez’s first substitutions. The start of the second half remained evenly matched, but the game began to unravel in the 61st minute.

CA Antoniano found the path to victory with three goals in just six minutes. First, Pablo Gálvez scored in the 61st minute to make it 2-1 and complete the home team’s comeback. Three minutes later, in the 64th minute, Carrascal extended the lead to 3-1.

The decisive blow came in the 67th minute, when Nacho—who had entered the game in the 57th minute—scored to make it 4-1. In just six minutes, the Lebrija team went from a tie to a three-goal lead that all but sealed the match.

Manolo Sánchez tried to turn the tide of the game with more substitutions. In the 65th minute, Claverías and Julen Jon came on for Alfonso Candelas and Pablo Arriaza, respectively. Later, Roi Tato did the same, bringing on Bakary Sow in the 75th minute. However, the score would not change.

The match ended in a crushing defeat for the Estepona team, which was unable to recover from the blow it suffered during that stretch of the second half.

Manolo Sánchez Takes Responsibility: “A 4-1 Loss Is My Fault”

After the match, CD Estepona coach Manolo Sánchez analyzed the loss and acknowledged that the team had competed in an evenly matched first half, during which he believed the game plan had been appropriate.

The coach explained that the team had opted for an offensive formation with two strikers and that, despite taking the lead, they had lacked assertiveness with the ball. He also acknowledged that the second half ultimately took the team out of the game.

Manolo expressed his frustration with some of the referee’s calls and the accumulation of yellow cards, which, in his opinion, influenced the course of the match and made it difficult to implement the planned substitutions. However, he wanted to make it clear that this should not serve as an excuse to justify the result.

The coach was unequivocal in taking responsibility for the heavy defeat: “A 4-1 loss is my fault; the game is my fault.” He also acknowledged that the team must continue working to find solutions and prevent situations like the one in Lebrija from happening again, recalling the second game of the season against Linares Deportivo.

Despite the result, Manolo Sánchez wanted to thank the fans who traveled with the team for their support. Once the match was over, the players went over to the visiting fans’ section to apologize for the loss.

The coach also called for calm and recalled the difficulties the team faced last season, when it had to fight to avoid relegation. With this message, he sought to convey that there is still a long way to go in the season.

Eight Yellow Cards for Estepona

The match was marked by interruptions and cautions. CD Estepona finished with eight yellow cards, while CA Antoniano received six.

For the red-and-white team, the following players were cautioned: Titi (14'), Julen Jon (28'), Pablo Aguilar (29'), Pablo Arriaza (32'), Álvaro Yuste (48'), Alfonso Candelas (49'), David Ballarín (54'), and Roi Tato (81').

For the home team, Pedro Melli (4'), Divino Sánchez (7'), Álvaro Caro (50'), Rodrigo Márquez (68'), Pablo Muñoz (69'), and Marckus (90') received yellow cards.

The match was officiated by referee Víctor Álvarez Gómez, assisted by Jhovany Andrés Ossa Hernández and Aday Rodríguez Melo.

Estepona, 11th with 12 points after Matchday 9

With this result, CD Estepona finishes Matchday 9 in 11th place, with 12 points, having recorded three wins, three draws, and three losses.

Despite the setback in Lebrija, Estepona is just two points away from fifth place—which marks the promotion playoff spots—and eight points behind the league leader, who holds the direct promotion spot.

Their next match will take place next week, when CD Estepona hosts UD Tamaraceite at the Francisco Muñoz Pérez Stadium. UD Tamaraceite currently sits in seventeenth place with six points and a record of two wins and seven losses, with no draws.

Manolo Sánchez’s team will therefore have another chance to put the loss in Lebrija behind them and get back on the winning track in front of their home fans.

You can check the complete and updated standings for Group IV of the Second Federation in our standings section.

CD Estepona Fans: The Voice of the Fans, Even Away from Home

The match could be followed via the CD Estepona Fans app, where we provided minute-by-minute updates and all the highlights of the game so that fans could stay informed at all times, no matter where they were cheering on the team.

At CD Estepona Fans, we continue working to bring all the latest club news to our fans. We are the voice of the fans and the only media outlet that offers daily coverage of CD Estepona, covering both the first team and the youth teams.

In addition to our website, we have apps for Android and iPhone, with the goal of bringing Estepona to all its fans, wherever they may be.

You can download our app:

• Android — Google Play: CD Estepona Fans
• iPhone — App Store: CD Estepona Fans

CD Estepona Fans | The Voice of the Fans