Real Oviedo face Real Sociedad in the Copa
Linares winner sets up mouth watering clash
Real Oviedo saw off UCAM Murcia 1-0 after extra time
in a nervy encounter at the Carlos Tartiere in front of over 10,000 fans to set
up at two-legged clash with La Liga giants Real Sociedad.
Coach Sergio Egea named a strong
looking line up for the tie. David Fernandez came back into the side for Eneko
whilst Hector Font was also recalled to the line up after being rested at the
weekend. Sene also started the match in place of Sergio Garcia.
In a goalless 90 minutes there
were chances at either end with Linares going close on a couple of occasions as
well as chances for Sene and Generelo. UCAM also tested Esteban on a few
occasions.
It was extra time though where
the game really exploded. Six minutes into the added period came the games only
goal. After Oviedo won a free kick on the left hand side. Susaeta spotted
Linares had escaped his man with a clever run, so curled a delightful ball into
the area and Linares met with a first time spinning volley into the bottom
corner. It was a goal worthy of winning any game. Real Oviedo had a chance to
end the fans suffering by wrapping the game up when they won a penalty at the
end of the first period of extra time after Fran Perez bought down Linares when
the striker was clean though. Perez received his marching orders from the
referee. Susaeta’s penalty was low and hard but the UCAM keeper Escalona got
down expertly to tip onto the post and Linares blazed the rebound over the bar.
It was a terrific save in truth and kept his team in the tie at that point.
Early in the second period of extra time and the visitors were reduced to nine
men when Nono was dismissed for arguing with the ref and that pretty much ended
the visitors chances and undid the keepers earlier heroics as Oviedo held on
for victory.
We now face Real Sociedad over 2
legs in the next round with the 1st leg at the Carlos Tartiere on
December 3rd and the return leg at Anoeta two weeks after on
December 17th. This is a great reward for the players who put in so
much effort to progress in the cup and Sergio Egea deserves praise for giving
the competition the respect it deserves. It’s a chance for the club to show the
world how good we are and what we are all about. A packed Carlos Tartiere for
the 1st leg will be a dream come true.
There is of course the important challenge of
focussing on league form before then as we must not let our cup exploits be a
distraction. This weekend we will be entertaining Celta Vigo B where a repeat
of last seasons 5-1 victory would do just nicely.
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