Cadet A Clinches MIC Victory with Epic Ebrima Goal

The Barça concluded the Costa Brava tournament with three championships out of the four categories it competed in. Arnau Blanco’s team surpassed Girona in a final decided by a goal from Ebrima in the last play of the match. While both U-12 teams rightfully triumphed in their finals against Real Madrid and Espanyol, in the U-16 category, Barça asserted its dominance in a closely contested final in Palamós.

It’s the team that has played the best football this Easter in all categories. Fans, coaches, and players from other teams agreed on one thing: Barça’s U-16 squad is a well-oiled machine. The players’ talent is immense, but what shines the most is their collective gameplay.

Barça’s ball control was undisputed throughout the match, maintaining their football philosophy consistently. Particularly incisive was Palamós native and former Girona player Nil Vicens, who aimed to lead his team’s attack with commendable actions down the left flank. The first dangerous shot came from Adri after a corner kick. In a very dangerous counterattack by Girona, Raúl Chirveches got injured and had to be replaced by Baba.

Girona came close to scoring the first goal in this isolated action, but Barça continued to dominate. Pedro Rodríguez threatened with a powerful free-kick, and later Campos almost scored with a header from a corner kick. Despite Barça’s efforts, they couldn’t break the deadlock in the first half. Nil warned with a shot early in the second half, but Girona gradually grew in confidence and refused to sit back. Barça reacted strongly, with a brilliant performance from Ebrima and a spectacular acrobatic shot from Roberto Tomás.

Galician Pedro Fernández showcased his talent but lacked precision in the final meters. After two fantastic dribbles, he unfortunately missed the target with his shot. Barcelona created several chances, but Girona, who had eliminated Atlético, held firm. Barça’s penultimate opportunity fell to Pol Bernabéu with a dangerous left-footed shot.

In the final play of the match, a free-kick taken by Pol Bernabéu, headed on by Campos, and opportunistically finished by Ebrima Tunkara. A goal that rewarded Barça’s dominance.

On the field in Palamós, Arnau Blanco’s team celebrated euphorically, winning a championship thanks to brilliant play throughout Easter week.

Espanyol, Champions in the Youth Category

Espanyol managed to uphold expectations and win in the U-14 category. It was the first morning final played in Palamós. The opponent, Andorra, put up a fight until a defensive error from Andorra was perfectly capitalized on by center-forward Sergi Font to secure the victory for the white-and-blue team. Andorra could have equalized after another defensive lapse, this time from the Periquitos, but from a potential 1-1, the game transitioned to a phase largely controlled by Espanyol. The match lacked danger in the penalty areas until Adrián Serrano almost equalized in the last play of the match. Andorra forced penalties, and Espanyol attempted to recover from the late goal by the Andorrans, ultimately prevailing in an epic shootout, 6-5.