Oviedo battle back to earn deserved point
Real Oviedo battled back to earn a deserved point in the early morning sunshine at the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero in a 1-1 draw
Real Oviedo battled back to earn a deserved point in the early morning sunshine at the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero in a 1-1 draw.
Nestor Susaeta struck the equaliser in the last minute as Oviedo's second half dominance finally paid off.
Coach Sergio Egea made one change from last weeks defeat to Girona and it was an enforced one with Aguirre making his first league start in place of the injured Borja Valle.
It was the visitors who started the brighter of the teams and Linares was nearly presented with an early chance from Susaeta's delivery but the defender reacted first to clear. However Elche soon settled down and start to boss the game and were soon creating chances of their own. First Lolo volleyed wide from a corner after sneaking in unmarked at the far post.
Soon after Sergio Leon had a chance after cutting in from the right but his left footed effort went narrowly over the bar. You could sense Oviedo were under the pump a bit and the goal came on 27 minutes. Armando Lozano escaped the marking at a corner and nodded home superbly from near the penalty spot into the bottom corner to give the home side the lead. This seemed to give Oviedo a wake up call and we started to create chances as the first half went on. Jon Erice chipped a fine ball over the home defence for Susaeta to shoot albeit from a tight angle but Javi Jiminez was equal to it in the Elche goal.
It was Elche who came closest to scoring again before the interval though and it was thanks to Esteban that they didn’t. Borja Gomez's off the ball foul on Sergio Leon resulted in a free kick to be awarded just out side the box. Espinosa stepped up to curl a wonderful effort towards the top corner but there was Esteban to get his fingertips to it and tip it onto the bar and away for a corner. That was the last goalmouth action of the first half and Elche just about deserved their half time lead.
The second half started and Oviedo's play was improved almost immediately. They were moving the ball quicker and with more purpose. The play was rewarded with a golden chance just seven minutes into the second half and again Susaeta was involved, this time on the left as he pulled a low ball back for Linares on the six yard line but the striker couldn't keep his effort on target and it went well over the bar.
A couple of minutes later and Oviedo nearly equalised again. This time it was captain Jon Erice with a wonderful left footed effort from 25 yards but he saw his effort come back off the crossbar. It was a moment of bad luck for the midfield talisman. As Oviedo were pushing forward in search of the goal Elche were sitting deeper and looking to counter which they did well on 71 minutes and only the heroics of Esteban kept the score line at 1-0. Sergio Leon got on the end of a chance but the veteran Oviedo keeper once again produced the goods. Oviedo though were determined to fight to the end and not give in. Substitute Edu Bedia had a chance from the edge of the area as the game approached the final few minutes but his left footed curling effort from the edge of the box went over.
The patience did however finally pay off in the last minute when left back Carlos Pena whipped in a low cross for Susaeta in what was a carbon copy of the chance for Linares at the start of the half. Suseata though made no mistake when his left footed effort beat Jiminez despite the keeper’s best efforts and Oviedo finally had their goal.
The final whistle sounded soon after that and the game ended 1-1.
It was a much improved second half performance and Oviedo should be proud of their efforts in what was a fully deserved away point against a good side.
Next week we return to the Carlos Tartiere for another early Sunday kick off when Mallorca are the visitors.
Hala Oviedo!!!
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