CD Vitoria claim first-leg advantage
The club's feeder team overcame Astorga in a 1-0 triumph at Ipurua
CD Vitoria ran out 1-0 winners over Atlético Astorga in the first leg of the sides' play-off final for promotion to Segunda División B. This result sees the SD Eibar feeder team take pole position ahead of the decisive return leg, as they bid to secure a longed-for promotion to the Spanish third tier.
Things couldn't have got off to a better start for Vitoria, who netted what proved to be the winner with just four minutes on the clock. Íñigo Ibargoien it was who fired the hosts ahead, connecting first time with a cross after some fine play down the left flank to send his shot just inside the post.
After falling behind, Astorga pushed up the field and looked to make some inroads on Markel Areitio's goal. The feeder team's shotstopper pulled off a double save to maintain his side's advantage on 13'. Following these two chances, the visitors' threat as an attacking force waned.
The intense evening heat saw the referee call for breaks in the action to allow the players to take on water. Despite the warmth, the two teams served up a hard-fought, high-octane encounter.
In the final minutes of the first half there were chances at both ends as the two teams showed no shortage of attacking ambition.
The spark provided by Josué Dorrio at the start of the second period saw Vitoria carve out several openings, only for the moves to ultimately break down in the third final.
In the 63rd minute, Areitio was again called upon to keep his side's lead intact. Firstly, he palmed an effort which was destined for the top corner behind, and then seconds later turned a fierce strike from outside the box around his post.
As Astorga pushed forward in search of an equaliser, the game became a more tetchy affair and the referee was forced to brandish several yellow cards.
Vitoria looked the stronger of the sides as the game reach its latter stages and fashioned several chances to have doubled their advantage on the counter-attack. In injury time, Arkaitz Lakanbra's charges created two further chances in quick succession, but ultimately failed to take them.
This narrow victory sees Vitoria claim an advantage in their quest to gain promotion to Segunda B. The SD Eibar feeder team face Astorga in the decisive second leg on Saturday at La Eragudina in a 18:30 kick-off.