Real Betis goalkeeper Ricardo is gaining momentum. He has been in goal since January 2009. Since the other goalkeeper Casto started the league and played the first half of the season, there was a risk that coach Chaparro might switch back to Casto.
Today Ricardo made the MARCA headline after league leader Barcelona started losing 2-0. The final score was a draw Betis 2-2 Barcelona.
English translation:
"Barcelona brings to a draw a 2-0 game in Ruiz de lopera in a spectacular game.
Ricardo managed with everybody except Etoo.
Betis and Barcelona shared points in a great game. The leader was losing the game with a 2-0 score. Barcelona could have won the game in the second half but it found itself in front of Ricardo. The Portuguese goalkeeper however could not stop Etoo."
Even the match report on the Barcelona site recognized Ricardo's great performance today:
"The Betis keeper was having an extraordinary evening, and twice foiled Barça with saves from Henry in the 70th and Piqué in the 81st minute. It just didn’t look like this was going to be Barça’s day, but just in the nick of time Eto’o stepped up to brilliantly round two defenders and with a formable change of pace struck home past Ricardo to level things at two apiece. There could have been more, with Barça pushing on in search of the three points, but there was to be no further scoring and the impressive run of nine away wins finally came to an end."
Betis 2-2 Barcelona
February 14, 2009
1-0. Min.18. Melli
2-0. Min.25. Mark González
2-1. Min.48. Etoo
2-2. Min.84. Etoo
Photo: Starting lineup by Marca
Minute:
8' Ricardo facing Etoo in the box. Etoo touches the ball but Ricardo takes it away.
40' Keita shoots but Ricardo stops it
45' + Penalty for Barcelona. Etoo shoots, Ricardo saves it but Etoo scores on the rebound
52' Etoo alone in front of Ricardo, Etoo shoots and Ricardo stops it
57' Xavi shoots but Ricardo catches the ball
72' Save by Ricardo
77' Shot on target by Abidal, Ricardo catches the ball
79' shot on target by Henry, Ricardo stops the ball
82' Pique shoots Ricardo blocks it
Photo: Match statistics by Marca
By the 20th minute Barcelona had 70% possesion of the ball yet Betis had already scored 1 goal.
27th minute- For the first time in this season 2008-2009 Barcelona was losing 2-0.
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Shots on target
attacking plays
goalkeeper interventions
fouls committed
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Videos of Barcelona's 2 goals:
Feb 14, 2009-Video Barcelona's 1st goal- Penalty taken by Etoo, see Ricardo's save, and Etoo score when the ball rebounds and Ricardo didn't get up quick enough to lean to the other side.
Feb 14, 2009-Video Barcelona's 2nd goal
The close-up is of course on Etoo. 46th second a quick closeup on goalkeeper Ricardo after conceding that goal.
Get tickets to Real Betis I sure didn't expect Real Betis to start out winning 2-0. Thought a Messi goal was inevitable and a score of Betis 1-2 Barcelona.
This is going to help Ricardo gain more confidence this season. We'll see if he's in goal in March 2009 also.
What do you think of Real Betis goaleeper Ricardo inching his way in the starting 11?
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