Play off battle heating up
Real Oviedo won at home once again thanks to goals right at the start and right at the end of the match in the Asturias sunshine to make it 7 consecutive home wins.
Fernando Hierro made 2 changes to the starting line up from last week’s controversial defeat at Tenerife with Linares and Saul coming in to replace Rocha and Nando.
Oviedo made the perfect start and took the lead with just 3 minutes on the clock. Toche brushed aside the challenge of Albizua to latch onto Verdes flick on, to expertly side foot home beyond Fernando in the visiting goal. It was a great finish by Oviedo’s leading goal scorer.
Real Oviedo were not resting on the one goal and were pushing for more as UCAM struggled to get any momentum at all. The next big chance came on 20 minutes when Susaeta hit a snapshot goal wards after Toche’s flick but Fernando got down low to save well. Things settled down for the visitors after this and although not creating their own chances they managed to stem the flow of Oviedo attacks and the hosts didn’t create another chance until 5 minutes before the interval when Jon Erice’s goal bound effort was deflected over after a Susaeta pass. The visitors finally had a shot in the last minute of the half but Salvador screwed his effort wide of the post from just inside the area.
The second half started in scrappy fashion and it took until 65 minutes until we carved out another chance of any note and it came from the left foot of Saul after UCAM had failed to clear a corner. His effort lacked any real menace though and was comfortable for Fernando. Moments later came one of those nearly moments. Jon Erice whipped in a delicious cross but it was agonisingly just out of reach of Toche.
The longer the game went on at just 1-0 you could feel the nerves settling in. UCAM were not really threatening but were beginning to break the game up and have more possession as time went on. They were finally put out of their misery though on 92 minutes when Oviedo grabbed the second goal. Good work down the left by Saul who fed substitute Michu who in turn fed fellow substitute Borja. He struck home a lovely curled left footed effort into the top corner and the 3 points were secured.
Next week we face a tricky trip to Lugo before the all-important home clash with Huesca the week after.
Elsewhere Real Oviedo B played earlier today away in the Asturias Mini-derby when they travelled to face table topping Sporting Gijon B. The Oviedo lads did the club proud as they came away from their bitter rivals with all 3 points to keep their own play off hopes alive in the Tercera group 2. What was impressive was the fact we did it despite playing almost all of the second half with 10 men after Asier Gomes was sent off on 48 minutes for a second yellow card. The all-important goal came on 70 minutes when Edu Cortina drove home a low cross at the far post. Alvaro picked up a red card for the hosts in stoppage time as frustrations boiled over for them.
John Mothershaw
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