SA POBLA, Spain (Interstat) — In a dramatic and hard-fought Copa del Rey Juvenil match that required extra time to decide a winner, Sabadell U19 edged past UD Poblense 2-1 on Wednesday at Estadio Municipal de Sa Pobla.

The contest, which saw the visiting side from Sabadell fulfill statistical projections by a narrow margin, was ultimately decided by a goal deep into the second period of extra time, handing Sabadell U19 a victorious start to their campaign in the prestigious Spanish youth tournament.

The game’s opening 90 minutes proved to be a tense, defensive struggle, with neither side able to break the deadlock. The physical nature of the match was evident, with the first of three yellow cards shown in the 31st minute to Sabadell’s Arthur. The stalemate persisted through the end of regulation, forcing the teams into an additional 30 minutes of play.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 109th minute by Sabadell U19 substitute Javi López, who scored what appeared to be a potential winner. The goal seemed to confirm the pregame model from Interstat, which had projected a 1-0 victory for Sabadell U19 and gave the visitors a 52 percent probability of advancing.

However, the home side, UD Poblense, mounted a fierce and immediate response. Just minutes after falling behind, Poblense found an equalizer to level the score and reignite their hopes of forcing a penalty shootout. The crucial goal was scored by Diego Martínez, a midfielder who provided a key offensive spark for the home team.

The momentum shift was short-lived. Sabadell U19, demonstrating resilience, reclaimed the lead for good shortly after. The winning goal was scored by another impactful substitute, Rubén Martínez, who secured the victory for the visitors. The assist on the decisive play was credited to Arthur, who, despite being booked earlier in the match, delivered a critical contribution off the bench.

The final minutes of the match were marked by heightened intensity, resulting in two more cautions. Sabadell’s Dani Nieto, who also recorded an assist in the game, was shown a yellow card in the 102nd minute. UD Poblense’s Tomás Giaquinto received a booking in the 111th minute as the home side’s frustration mounted in the closing moments.

The final whistle confirmed a 2-1 victory for Sabadell U19, improving their record in the Copa del Rey Juvenil to one win and zero losses to begin the season. Their overall record across all competitions also moves to one win and zero losses. For UD Poblense, the narrow defeat marks a disappointing start, as their record in this competition and across all competitions falls to zero wins and one loss.

The match underscored the importance of squad depth, with substitutes playing a pivotal role in the outcome. Sabadell U19’s bench provided both the opening and closing goals, with Javi López and Rubén Martínez serving as the ultimate difference-makers. Arthur’s playmaking off the bench, resulting in an assist, further highlighted the impact of the visitors’ reserves.

For Poblense, the performance of midfielder Diego Martínez, who scored his team’s lone goal, was a bright spot in an otherwise losing effort. The home side battled valiantly but ultimately fell short against a Sabadell U19 team that capitalized on its key opportunities when it mattered most.

The victory allows Sabadell U19 to advance to the next round of the Copa del Rey Juvenil, while UD Poblense’s journey in the domestic youth cup competition comes to an end.