Real Oviedo 1 Cultural 1

Honours even at the Carlos Tartiere

Oviedo held by dogged Cultural

Real Oviedo were held to a 1-1 draw at home by mid-table Cultural in an entertaining clash at a damp Carlos Tartiere. Sergio Egea was again the tinker man making 3 changes to last weeks win at Burgos. In came Diegui, Hector Font and Omgba and out went Nacho Lopez, Generelo and Sergio Garcia. There was also a place on the bench for one of the midweek signings with Englishman Charlie I’anson taking his place amongst the substitutes.

It was the visitors who started the brighter of the two teams with Aketxe and Palaez linking well. The latter in particular looking to drive at the Oviedo defence with some direct runs. He was first to test Esteban with a left footed effort from 25 yards but the Oviedo keeper was equal to it.

Oviedo’s first effort on goal came on 22 minutes and it was left back Dani Bautista who found himself in an advanced position. He cut in side and hit a low shot from the edge of the box with his right foot but got no pace on the shot and Leandro gathered comfortably.  Just 1 minute later though and the visitors took the lead. It was a well-worked goal that again involved the lively front two. Palaez received the ball outside the area before playing a neat one-two with his strike partner Aketxe before beating Esteban with a low drive from inside the area. It was a clever goal, which seemed to stun the Carlos Tartiere. Five minutes later and it was nearly two. Again the front two linked well except this time it was Aketxe who fired in the effort after good work from Palaez but his curler from the edge of the box was inches wide with Esteban beaten.

Borja Valle then tried his luck with a venomous drive as Oviedo looked for a way back into the game. Leandro saved well as the ball took a wicked bounce in front of the keeper, it was a good gather.

Just as half time was approaching and Oviedo looked to be heading in 1-0 down came the lifeline. Oviedo won a free kick 30 yards from goal after a clumsy foul on Omgba, Susaeta stepped up and went for the near post but Leandro got down and tipped away for the ball to fall for Borja Valle who blasted home the rebound on the volley. It was terrific technique as the ball whistled past the keeper in at the near post. It was a great time to score as the referee blew for half time moments after. “Vamos Vamos Oviedo” rung round the stands as the players made their way down the tunnel for their half time cup of tea.

Oviedo stepped up the possession after the break looking to find that winning goal. Linares went close to adding to his impressive goal tally this season after Susaeta did well down the left pulling the ball back into the box. Leandro and centre back Perez got themselves into a tangle and the ball fell to Linares but his effort found the side netting. Linares had a better chance two minutes later when he met Suzaeta’s out swinging corner but his header went agonizingly wide. Susaeta himself went close when his screamer of a free kick from 30 yards was inches wide. Chances wise and possession wise it was all Oviedo in the second half but Cultural did look dangerous on the counter attack. Jonathan Vila in particular was performing well in cutting short these counter attacks as he and David Fernandez looked to impose themselves on Cultural’s dangerous forward pair. Linares was desperate to get on the score sheet but it was proving to just not be the strikers day. First Leandro got down well to block his low drive from inside the area and then after bursting through midfielder the striker tried his luck left footed from the edge of the area but it went well wide. Oviedo had tried all they could but Cultural were standing firm. Their game plan to frustrate Oviedo and counter with pace and trickery was working well. It was thanks to Jonathan Vila that they didn’t grab a winner His vital block from Aketxe’s cross when Palaez was well placed behind him saved Oviedo a point. The whistle sounded and it was the first league draw of the season at home. This result is by no means a disaster and you have to say that Cultural played their part in an entertaining game and their game plan worked. Results elsewhere were mixed for Oviedo as although Murcia won and closed the gap at the top to 6 points, Guijuelo and Logrones both went down to surprising defeats.

Next week sees us travel for a difficult away fixture as we visit third place Guijuelo.