Real Sociedad 2 Real Oviedo 0

Brave Oviedo bow out of the cup

Real Oviedo put in a brave performance at Anoeta against La Liga giants Real Sociedad but it wasn’t enough to stop the more clinical Basque side progressing to the next round of the Copa del Rey.

Real Oviedo put in a brave performance at Anoeta against La Liga giants Real Sociedad but it wasn’t enough to stop the more clinical Basque side progressing to the next round of the Copa del Rey.

Coach Sergio Egea again left some of his most influential players out of the firing line with Linares, Susaeta and Hector Font all sitting this one out. Omgba, Sene and Diego Cervero were once again thrust into action after all doing well in the 1^st leg. Generelo, Diegui and Oscar all came into the side and there was a place for academy player Allyson amongst the substitutes. There was also a change of goalkeeper with Gorka deputising for the rested Esteban.  Real Sociedad named a similar looking line up to that of the 1st leg.

It was the la liga side that started the brighter and were looking to take the game to Oviedo and showed their intent on just 6 minutes when Pardo managed to get a shot away but Vila got in a crucial block. La Real’s Icelandic striker Finnbogason then went close on two occasions to opening the deadlock. He shot straight at Gorka. The keeper came off his line well to block the danger and he was called into action again moments later when Canales chipped a clever ball through for Finnbogason  but the Oviedo keeper spread himself to pull off a super save.

It took until the 22^nd minute for Real Oviedo to build a meaningful attack and it resulted in Sene nearly giving Oviedo a shock lead. He won the ball 25 yards from goal before shifting the ball onto his right foot and unleashed a great drive that was heading for the bottom corner only for a full length Rulli to tip round the post. This was a rare venture in the Sociedad half though in what was becoming a very one-sided first half. Pardo was next to test Gorka, this time with a free kick but his 25 yard effort was tipped over the bar. It was one-way traffic now and the goal Sociedad craved finally came just before the half hour mark. Pardo played a wonderful chipped ball over the static Oviedo defence and Hervias had beat the offside trap and cleverly slid a pass across the box  for Finnbogason to roll into an empty net for his first goal for the club.

Sociedad were dominant and stroking the ball about confidently now. Oviedo were defending deep and unable to hold the ball further up the pitch but managed to get to the half time interval without any further damage done.

The second half got underway and it was clear from the outset Oviedo were going to try and play further up the pitch. They seemed much more aggressive and positive. Just 6 minutes after the break and Oviedo had a great chance after winning a corner. Sergio Garcia whipped in the set piece to the near post and there was Jonathan Vila to head goal wards. Rulli pulled off a spectacular acrobatic save to avert the danger. Oviedo were pressing further up the pitch preventing Sociedad playing out from the back. When they did try, Los Carbayones through pressing managed to force a mistake and create another chance. It was Eneko who intervened and found him self squaring the ball to Garcia in the box but his pass went just behind Garcia and the defence had time to regroup and the chance was gone. It would have been a golden opportunity with a better delivery.

Oviedo were made to pay on the hour mark when Elustondo cut in from the right hand side and shot from distance, Gorka could only parry the shot and there was Finnbogason who had to slightly adjust his body to volley home left footed and put some daylight between the teams. The goal came at a bad time for Oviedo as had we kept it down to one approaching the last quarter of an hour or so, there may have been a few nerves in the home dressing room. As it was the last half hour or so was played end to end and both teams had chances to increase the score line. Finnbogason was denied a hat trick by a superb last ditch tackle and Gorka expertly saved the follow up from Pardo to keep the score down to 2-0.

Sergio Garcia and Sene both had chances towards the end of the game with Garcia’s effort tipped over the bar and Sene’s header from Garcia’s cross only finding the side netting. The full time whistle sounded and despite the defeat we can be so proud of the teams effort. They fought right to the end and never gave up. Although if truth be told we can’t argue with the outcome of the match overall, we showed real courage and bravery in the second half especially. I feel it would wrong not to mention our tremendous fans of which there were around 500 who had made the trip. They were simply magnificent. Singing and cheering the team on from the first minute right through to the last. It was also great to see Allyson given 35 minutes playing time.

We now move on to Saturday and back to league action with our final game of 2014 when we travel to face Somozas.