Castellonense comes from behind to beat Atlético Saguntino 4-1 in friendly
Atlético Saguntino lost 4-1 to UD Castellonense in a pre-season friendly played on Monday at the Eliseo Pla municipal ground, after leading at half-time.
Atlético Saguntino played another pre-season test on Monday, losing 4-1 to UD Castellonense at the Eliseo Pla municipal ground. The final score did not reflect the first half, in which the Saguntino side went into the break in front.
Forward Marc Bonafé put Atlético Saguntino ahead in the 23rd minute, and the team held that lead until half-time. Castellonense's response built gradually in the second half: Agus Murillo equalised at 1-1 in the 60th minute, and the score stayed level for another half hour.
Everything was decided in the last ten minutes of the match. Joan Pulpón put the home side ahead in the 80th minute and, just four minutes later, Adama Sangaré extended the lead to 3-1. Sangaré, who previously played for Atlético Saguntino, scored his second goal of the afternoon in the 86th minute to seal the final 4-1.
The match pitted two teams from different divisions against each other, which also helps explain the final score. UD Castellonense — a club based in Villanueva de Castellón, not the city of Castellón as its name might suggest — will play this 2026-27 season in Segunda Federación (Spain's third tier), one division above Tercera Federación (fourth tier), where Atlético Saguntino competes. The gap in level between the two sides may partly explain the outcome of a match the Saguntino team had under control well into the second half, and which was settled in a span of just six minutes, between Pulpón's goal and Sangaré's second.
Pre-season friendlies, whose results do not count towards any official standings, allow coaches to test tactical variations and give minutes to different players before the competition begins. Atlético Saguntino, who go into next season aiming to fight for promotion to Segunda Federación again, will continue their preparation over the coming weeks before the official start of the 2026/27 Tercera Federación season, on the weekend of 6 September, when the Saguntino side host Atlético Levante at the Nou Camp de Morvedre stadium. According to golsmedia.com, with additional background from Wikipedia on UD Castellonense.