Villarreal B 2–2 Antequera CF — Villarreal B and Antequera CF played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in the Spanish Primera División RFEF, with the visitors fighting back from two goals down to claim a valuable point. Álex Forés had put the Yellow Submarine's reserve side in command with a first-half brace, only for Antequera to respond after the interval and snatch a late equaliser.

A tale of two halves at the Ciudad Deportiva

Villarreal B started with the confidence of a side comfortable in its own environment, moving the ball quickly across the turf and pinning Antequera deep inside their own half. The young hosts looked sharper, more inventive and, for 45 minutes, in complete control. But football at this level punishes complacency, and Antequera's second-half response was as impressive as it was unexpected.

The draw leaves both teams searching for consistency in a division where the margins between promotion hopefuls and relegation battlers are famously slim.

Key moments

• 18' – 1-0: Álex Forés opens the scoring with a composed finish after a slick exchange on the edge of the box.
• 39' – 2-0: Forés doubles his tally, arriving late to convert a low cross from the left.
• 58' – 2-1: Antequera pull one back when Jorge Moreno heads home from a well-worked corner.
• 74' – Big chance: Villarreal B hit the post through a curling effort from outside the area.
• 88' – 2-2: Iván Aguilar strikes late for Antequera, finishing off a rapid counter-attack to silence the home crowd.

Tactical story: Villarreal's youth vs Antequera's resilience

Villarreal B's approach was typical of a well-coached academy side: high pressing, quick combinations and full-backs pushing aggressively into the final third. It produced two goals and several other chances, but it also left space behind for Antequera to exploit once they grew into the game.

Antequera's manager adjusted at half-time, pushing his wingers higher and targeting the channels either side of Villarreal's centre-backs. The change transformed the contest. From a passive first half, the visitors became the more dangerous team after the break, and their late equaliser was no more than their second-half display deserved.

Standout players

Álex Forés was the outstanding attacker on the pitch, his two goals demonstrating exactly why he is regarded as one of the most promising forwards in Villarreal's academy pipeline. His movement between the lines repeatedly pulled Antequera's defence out of shape.

For the visitors, Jorge Moreno was a constant threat from set pieces, and Iván Aguilar's late finish capped a tireless performance. In midfield, Antequera's captain set the tone for the comeback with a series of pressing runs that disrupted Villarreal's rhythm.

What it means for the table

Dropping two points from a winning position will sting for Villarreal B, who remain in the hunt for a play-off place but continue to leak goals at costly moments. Antequera, meanwhile, will treat the point as a platform to build on, having shown real character to recover from a difficult opening half an hour.

What's next

Villarreal B will want a response in their next fixture, particularly defensively, while Antequera return home with renewed belief. In a division as tightly packed as the Primera Federación, results like this often prove decisive come May.