Fine victory for Los Carbayones
Real Oviedo picked up their second home win of the season with a superb result and performance against Rayo Vallecano in the early morning sunshine at the Carlos Tartiere.
In form Rayo arrived in Oviedo on the back of 7 points out of a possible 9 but left Asturias empty handed after goals from Linares and Toche.
Fernando Hierro made 2 changes to last weeks draw at home to Numancia with Jon Erice and David Fernandez coming in to replace Edu Bedia and Oscar Gil.
Real Oviedo came out of the blocks and started well creating a chance inside the first minute of the game. Right back Fernandez crossed for Toche but he could only head at Tono in the Rayo goal.
Toche was involved again a few minutes later when he crossed for Linares but again Tono saved for the visitors low down to deny the Oviedo striker. Rayo began to get a foothold in the game as Oviedo's high tempo start seemed to fizzle out a little. On 18 minutes Rayo thought they had taken the lead when right back Galan headed Manucho's flick on into the net only to see the offside flag go up. It was a good spot by the linesman and Oviedo's offside trap had worked well. The game seemed to go into a bit of a lull for 20 minutes before suddenly Oviedo took the lead out of nothing. Ex Rayo player Michu played a fine ball over the top of the defence for Linares to run onto. The striker held off the challenge of 2 defenders, before poking the ball under Tono into the net to give the home side the lead. It was a wonderful poachers goal and the kind of goal all strikers love.
Rayo hit back with their own chances straight away forcing 2 saves out of Juan Carlos. First he denied ex Man United striker Manucho's diving header from a Piti free kick before then saving a Trashorras header from close range.
Linares had a good chance 5 minutes into the 2nd half to make it 2 but he snatched at his effort and sliced wide when well placed inside the area.
Sometimes you get the feeling it isn’t your day and that is how Galan must have been feeling on 53 minutes when the right back had yet another goal ruled out. It clearly wasn’t the right backs day as when he drifted in at the far post to finish once again he was correctly ruled offside. Rayo were having the better of the play in the early parts of the second period and Moreno had a chance from Piti's pass and opted to lob the onrushing Juan Carlos but thankfully for Oviedo his effort went wide of the near post.
You got the feeling Oviedo needed a 2nd goal to kill the game off and that arrived on 70 minutes albeit rather fortunately. Jon Erice lobbed a ball towards the penalty area for Michu. As the ball was about to arrive Razvan Rat bundled into the striker with bit of ridiculous challenge in truth and the ref pointed to the spot. Rayo were furious as they felt the challenge was outside the area. TV replays suggested they had a point. Toche wasn’t bothered though as he sent Tono the wrong way with his emphatic spot kick to double the lead.
Rayo knew the game was up after this and didn’t threaten again in the reminder of the game. In fact it was only due to the fact Christian Fernandez headed wide from a corner the score line was not heavier as Oviedo saw the game out comfortably for a great win against very strong opposition.
Next week we travel for another difficult away game at Girona.
John Mothershaw
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