Gonzalo's brace seals victory for Castilla

Real Madrid Castilla defeated Atlético Sanluqueño at the Alfredo Di Stéfano on Primera Federación matchday 23. Once again, Gonzalo Castro was the star of the show, grabbing a brace that extends our reserve team’s excellent run of form and pulls them further up the league table. After a goalless first half, the 62nd minute brought the striker's second headed goal of the week, repeating his exploits against Leganés in the Cup, before adding an 82nd-minute penalty to make it 2-0. With those two goals, he has been on the scoresheet 21 times for Castilla this season: a record in the division since its rebranding as Primera Federación.
Our reserve team took the initiative from the start and soon began to create chances. In the 7th minute, Borja Alonso headed a David Jiménez corner high over the bar. Shortly afterwards, Gonzalo had the clearest chance of the first half. He took advantage of a loose ball in the area and connected with a right-footed shot that flew centimetres wide of the visitors' left-hand post. Raúl's men were clearly dominating and continued to cause problems for the opposition defence. In the 21st minute, Borja Alonso stepped up and his left-footed shot went over the bar. From that moment on there were no more chances and the score remained 0-0 at half-time.
Gonzalo, record goalscorer
The first chance of the second half went to the visitors, but Mario de Luis thwarted Mario Rodríguez in the one-on-one (52'). It didn't take long for Castilla to respond, and they came close to scoring six minutes later. Borja Alonso volleyed the ball against the crossbar after a cross from Youssef. Then it was Gonzalo‘s turn. The striker, having scored four goals against Algeciras last week and scoring a decisive header for the first team against Leganés on Wednesday, connected with another powerful header to put the reserves ahead (62’).
Castilla were not content with just a 1-0 scoreline and the striker's run of form did not end there. In the 82nd minute, he converted a penalty that he himself had won to seal his brace. His 21 goals with the reserve team are the best goal scoring figures in a Primera Federación season. David Jiménez could have made it 3-0 in added time but the opposing goalkeeper made a fantastic save. Castilla's eighth league victory of the season with another great performance from Gonzalo.

MATCH INFO
2-Real Madrid Castilla: De Luis, Chema, Gonzalo, Manuel Ángel, Víctor Muñoz (Lorenzo, 90‘), Borja Alonso (Edgar, 74’), Ribes, D. Jiménez, Youssef, Pol Fortuny (Andrés Campos, 74') and Mario Rivas.
0-Atlético Sanluqueño: Samu, Vacas, Guti (Bouare, 69‘), Yasser, Cabrera, Pavón, Mario Rodríguez (Borja, 59’), Amoah (Cuevas, 81‘), Sofiane, Soonsup-Bell (Alain, 69’) and Roger Riera.

Goals:
1-0 (min. 62): Gonzalo.
2-0 (min. 82): Gonzalo.