Brave Oviedo bow out of Copa
Real Oviedo bowed out of the Copa del Rey after a 3-2 extra time defeat to Mirandes at the Carlos Tartiere.
Kone and Hector Verdes both scored their first goals for Oviedo but a controversial winning goal in extra time decided the tie.
Sergio Egea shuffled his pack but still named a strong line up with Diego Cervero and Linares leading the line up front.
Mirandes took the lead on 4 minutes when striker Abdon Prats out muscled Verdes down the left hand side before unleashing an outstanding left foot volley from 35 yards over Mino in the Oviedo goal for the opening goal of the evening. It was wonderful strike from a player who was to have very good evening.
The first half had a lot to live up to after that goal and Oviedo's best chance came in the final minute of it when after a great one touch passing move, Fernandez hit a cross shot across the face of goal but it went wide of the far post.
Into the second half and Oviedo's evening got worse on 52 minutes when Dani Bautista received his second yellow card and was dismissed.
This man advantage prompted the visitors to go for the kill as they piled forward in search of a second. Carnicer and Alex Ortiz both went close before the second goal did arrive on 69 minutes. Substitute Lago Junior burst down the left and pulled the ball back for Abdon Prats to get his second and double his sides lead. This had come minutes after Hervias and Kone had been introduced and their pace and trickery was evident and making Mirandes look uncomfortable.
Two minutes after Mirandes second goal came a sign Oviedo were not out of this tie and Kone went close with a header from Aguirre's cross but his effort was cleared off the line. The striker wasn’t to be denied his goal though and after a smart one-two with Hervias the striker chipped the ball over Raul in the visiting goal. It was game on and now an entertaining end-to-end game. Abdon Prats was denied his hat trick by a superb low save from Mino before another moment that went against the home side. Oviedo were then reduced to nine men after Hector Font received his marching orders after bringing down Lago Junior and was the last man so the referee applied the letter of the law and out came the red card. The odds were stacked against Oviedo now but courageously they were not dead and buried and kept fighting. Kone had a great chance to equalise on 86 minutes after a goalmouth scramble but Raul kept out his prodded effort. A minute later though and Oviedo amazingly managed an equaliser. Hervias whipped in a corner and there was Verdes to pounce with a bullet header and send the tie to extra time.
As expected with their two-man advantage the visitors had most of the possession in extra time but the first chance fell to Oviedo from a counter attack. Raul had to claw away Hervias cross shot. Lago Junior had a golden chance but failed to hit the target from six yards from a Sangalli cross.
Then in the last minute of the first half of extra time came yet another moment of controversy when following a 25 yard effort that crashed back off the Oviedo post there was Abdon Prats to tuck home the rebound for his hat trick. Replays showed the striker was clearly in an offside possession but the goal was allowed to stand
Even after this latest set back Oviedo came out fighting in the second period and pushed Verdes up as an extra attacker. Hervias was extremely unlucky not to equalise when his left footed effort cannoned off the cross bar and Linares also went close after another scramble and after Kone's effort was well saved by Raul, Linares could only poke wide. Oviedo took it to the wire and in the last minute of extra time Kone squared for Linares but the ball was just behind the striker and the chance was gone. The whistle sounded and despite going out of the cup the crowd stood to applaud the effort shown by Los Carbayones. It truly was a heroic attempt to remain in the cup but it just wasn’t to be. To fight back with nine men in the fashion they did showed real courage, real determination and so much heart.
We move back into league action on Saturday when we welcome Alcorcon to the Carlos Tartiere.
Hala Oviedo!
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