Zaragoza 1 Real Oviedo 0

Play off dreams over after defeat

A fourth defeat in five games was enough to end Real Oviedo's play off hopes and ensure another season in the Segunda division.

It was Zaragoza who grabbed the only goal of the game to break Oviedo's hearts.

David Generelo named a somewhat surprising line up making several changes from recent games. Viti came in for his first start in place of Nestor Susaeta in the major surprise. David Fernandez dropping to the bench for Verdes also had a few tongues wagging. There were also starts for Kone, Hervias, Edu Bedia & Michel.

Viti had a great chance inside the opening minute after Kone's cross wasn’t cleared. The ball fell for the youngster but he dragged his effort wide.

It wasn’t the only effort though in a lively start as Mino was called into action to deny Angel. Diamanka also fired over inside the first ten minutes. Zaragoza were beginning to take control though and cemented that on 20 minutes when they took the lead. Angel's header from a left wing cross was superbly saved by Mino but the loose ball fell to Guitian who scuffed his effort goal wards. It appeared Mino had saved again but the linesman's flag went up to signal a goal as it was adjudged the ball had crossed the line. Replays confirmed the assistant's decision.

Oviedo battled for the remainder of the half but failed to create chances.

The next best chance came five minutes into the second half and again it was Angel. This time he failed to hit the target when he fired over from 8 yards from a tight angle. A minute later and Guitian tried to grab his second but Mino tipped his effort from the edge of the area round the post. Oviedo despite having a Kone effort ruled out for offside struggled to create chances until Michel had an effort deflected wide on 76 minutes. Zaragoza went close to putting the game to bed two minutes later when a Cabrera header hit the crossbar.

Time was running out for Oviedo as scores elsewhere meant realistically Oviedo didn’t just need an equaliser, they needed to find two goals. They threw everything forward in the last ten minutes. Linares fashioned some space in the area before swivelling and shooting but his effort was well blocked.

With 88 minutes on the clock came probably Oviedo's best chance of the game when Susaeta fired in a cross, Nacho Lopez met the ball to head over the bar. Cervero was better placed to nod home but Lopez mustn’t have heard the shout and with it went the game as the final whistle went and Oviedo's play off dream was over.

We still have one game remaining when we face Osasuna next on Saturday night. We still must play for pride despite the obvious disappointment of recent weeks.

Hala Oviedo!