The 2016 Catalonia International Trophy is the 6th edition of the Catalonia International Trophy, pitted Catalonia against Tunisia on 28 December 2016 at the Estadi Montilivi in Girona, Catalonia, Spain. Tunisia won the title after winning on penalties.
Background The two teams previously faced each other once during the 2011 Catalonia International Trophy at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Barcelona, Spain. The match ended in a 0−0 draw. Despite the draw, the Catalan team conceded the trophy to Tunisia in a clear display of fair play.
Match
Summary In the first half, Tunisia came out much more revolutionized than Catalonia and in a few minutes was ahead on the scoreboard thanks to two goals in twelve minutes by the same player, Youssef Msakni, who bravely made the pair of central players suffer, Andreu Fontàs and Sergi Gómez, and they were anticipated twice to make it 0−2. Catalonia, under the baton of Xavi Hernández, reacted and a step forward resulted in Gerard Moreno's goal, with a strong left-footed shot from the front of the area.
Xavi received ovations when Gerard and Sergio replaced him in the second half for Oriol Riera. Girona footballer Pere Pons, who played the second 45 minutes, has also been highly acclaimed by Montilivi. Another time Msakni, with a pipe from the front unstoppable for Edgar Badia, has put two goals ahead for Tunisia and forced Catalonia to row again against the current.
The selection, however, offered a spectacular final stretch of the match and with a great reaction. He got back into the game with the 2−3, made by Gerard Valentín and signed by Sergio García. The goal gave even more spark to Catalonia, which did not take long to make it 3−3, the work of Verdú after a great cross, also from the right, by Álvaro Vázquez. In the last few minutes, the selection has been looking for the 4−3 insistently but has not found it despite having some very interesting arrivals. He also had the 3−4 Tunisia in the last gasp.
Details
GK 1 Jordi Masip DF 6 Pol Lirola DF 5 Sergi Gómez DF 3 Andreu Fontàs DF 14 Aarón Martín MF 9 Sergi Roberto MF 13 Marc Roca MF 7 Xavi (c) FW 17 Gerard Moreno FW 15 Sergio García FW 11 Víctor Rodríguez Substitutions:GK 16 Edgar Badia DF 13 Gerard Valentín DF 10 Marc Crosas DF 4 Alberto de la Bella DF 2 Víctor Álvarez MF 14 Pere Pons MF 12 Sergi Samper MF 8 Joan Verdú FW 16 Álvaro Vázquez FW 18 Oriol Riera Manager: Gerard López Sergio González GK 16 Aymen Mathlouthi (c) DF 17 Hamza Mathlouthi DF 2 Syam Ben YoussefDF 4 Zied BoughattasDF 5 Oussama HaddadiDF 6 Chamseddine DhaouadiMF 8 Hamza Lahmar MF 9 Naïm Sliti MF 15 Larry AzouniFW 11 Taha Yassine Khenissi FW 7 Youssef Msakni Substitutions:GK 1 Rami Jridi DF 13 Hamdi Nagguez MF 19 Saad Bguir MF 13 Ferjani Sassi MF 14 Amine Ben Amor FW 18 Saber Khalifa Manager: Henryk Kasperczak
References