Jaume Tovar’s first-half strike booked RCD Mallorca B’s place in the Segunda División B play-off final as we overcame Ibiza Islas Pitiusas 1-0 at Poliesportiu Municipal de Santanyí.
The COVID-19 crisis meant we have been unable to complete the domestic campaign in its usual manner, an instead entered an express play-off system with the three other sides at the top of the table.
Judging by the frenetic pace in which we began the match, you wouldn’t have guessed we had been without a competitive fixture for over four months as after just six minutes Carlos Gilbert tested Marcos from inside the area.
Òscar Coll later thought he had found the break through when found space to fire a shot at goal, and with the opposition goalkeeper beaten, a matter of inches was the difference between the midfielder finding the bottom corner and hitting the post.
We would have to wait until the 43rd minute to break the deadlock despite our promising start and having dominated possession to little avail, as Tovar headed home Jesus Ocaña's whipped cross in the box.
Conceding on the stroke of half-time took the wind out of the visitors slightly, but upon the restart, Jesús Ruiz was called into action to deny Terán before Bala headed against the woodwork with the goalkeeper well and truly beaten.
With 22 minutes left on the clock and attempting to weather the storm as Ibiza Islas Pitiusas desperately searched for an equaliser, we were reduced to 10 men when Raúl Parra was handed a second yellow card.
We put men behind the ball following the defender's expulsion in an attempto to hold onto our lead, although the second half's clearest opportunity fell to substitute Dani Ribelles who managed to wriggle past his marker to test Marcos with a stinging effort.
A well-deserved victory means we will now face league leaders Poblense in the play-off final in a week's time.
RCD Mallorca B: Jesús, Parra, Ocaña, Gayà, Hernández, Giaquinto (81’), Montalbán, Coll (81’), Tovar (81’), Gilbert (68’), Karim (62’)
Substitutes: Martinez (62’), Elías, Ribelles (81’), Redondo (68’), Albín (81’), Bravo, Jaime de las Marinas Gil (81’), Gonzalez, Fode
CD Ibiza Islas Pitiusas: Marcos Contretas, Enric, Pau, Losada (82’), Cala, Bala (62’), Terán, Dailos, Colau, Ismael, J. Gómez (45’)
Substitutes: Rafa, Dani, Kike, Gorka, Arias (62’), Solano (82’), Moreno, Melo (45’), Nofre
Goles: Tovar, 0-1 (43’)
