Real Oviedo 0 Real Sociedad 0

Real Oviedo impress as honours even

All to play for in the 2^nd leg at Anoeta 

After what seemed like an everlasting build up, the 4^th round Copa del Rey tie with Real Sociedad finally arrived. The La liga outfit arrived at the Carlos Tartiere in good form after claiming seven out of a possible nine points from their last three matches. This included a 2-1 win over champions Atletico Madrid and more recently since David Moyes appointment two consecutive clean sheets. This left Oviedo under no illusions of the size of this evening’s task. Sergio Egea however sprung a huge surprise when naming his team. Hector Font, Nestor Susaeta, Dani Bautista and Miguel Linares were all rested as well as four others as only three players remained from Sundays defeat to Zamora. 

Oviedo started brightly and Borja Valle making his first competitive start for Los Carbayones went close with a long range effort but Rulli gathered well. Oviedo were looking to attack whenever possible and midway through the first half a neat move down the right between Valle and Eneko resulted in Sene being clear but Elustondo managed to block the goal bound shot. As the half went on though the visitors were getting more and more possession. They should have had a penalty on the half hour after Hervias’s run into the area resulted in him being upended by Diegui. The referee waved away Sociedad’s appeals but replays suggested it should have been a spot kick. Chory Castro seemed to be involved in everything for the visitors and he twice went close towards the end of the first half. Firstly a low drive from a tight angle which Esteban palmed away, then a deflected effort from outside the area which had the keeper stranded but fortunately for Oviedo the deflection took the ball wide. Half time arrived with the score still goalless.

The second half was played at a much higher tempo from both teams and this was no more evident than in midfield engine Omgba. His energy is simply amazing. Zuratuza could have given the away side the lead straight after the re-start but his header from Castro’s centre was straight at Esteban. Omgba then tried his look from 25 yards but his left footed effort went wide. It was fastly developing into a mouth-watering end to end cup tie as within minutes Sociedad’s Icelandic striker Finnbogason went close side footing just wide from another Castro delivery. On the hour mark came the best chance of the game and it came for Oviedo. A deep corner was nodded back into the danger area from Eneko for Sene but his spectacular volleyed effort went over the bar. He almost connected too well, a miss kick of some sort would surely have resulted in a goal. A few minutes later and it was Oviedo’s turn to have a penalty appeal turned down. This one was more staggering than the first. Omgba drove into the area before being upended by a clumsy challenge that flung the midfielder into the air but amazingly the referee waved away the appeals again. Egea was sent from the dugout for his protests.

That wasn’t the end of the penalty appeals though. Finnbogason thought he was pushed in the back by Diegui but the referee got this one correct in not awarding the spot kick. After Oviedo’s tremendous efforts they understandably were tiring towards the end and were glad of the final whistle as Sociedad ended the game the stronger of the two sides. Hervias and Finnbogason causing a few flutters in the Oviedo faithful’s hearts but the referee blew his whistle to bring proceedings to an end and the score finished: Real Oviedo 0 Real Sociedad 0.

Despite the lack of goals it was a terrific cup-tie and Oviedo turned in a wonderful performance full of style, determination and endeavour. The score line is even more impressive when you realise it was a team mainly of fringe players. Omgba, Erice & Sene impressed but a special mention must go to young full backs Diegui and Oscar who both defied their tender years to put in terrifically intelligent performances that showed experience beyond their previous playing time. We are still very much in the cup-tie and can travel to San Sebastian in a fortnight full of confidence. We travel on Sunday though to face Tropezon in a vital Segunda B match.