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Javier Aguirre could also say that what was played in Pasarón is not football, but he didn’t say it. His team, Mallorca, sweated like hell (0-2) against a Pontevedra they said needed to gnaw on in the mid-sixties. Like a bone, come on. It was the Galician side, in a historic La Liga venue, that years ago ditched the glitz and frills of the top category, which were few in its day. In fact, every Primera game was more like Pontevedra Cup night than what happens on the elite green carpets.
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Gonzalo Cretazz, Cristian Fernández (S. López, min. 64), Campins (Arregi, min. 64), Iñaki, David Fernández, Zourdine Thior (Jorge Martínez-Losa, min. 76), Markel Lozano, Carlos Doncel (Daniel, min 87), Jaime (Boniquet, min 63) and Menudo
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Remiro, Gorosabel (Elustondo, min. 87), Le Normand, Aihen Muñoz (Diego Rico, min. 64), Jon Pacheco, Ander Guevara, Brais, Illarramendi (Pablo Marín, min. 81), Merino (Martín Zubimendi, min. 64), Sörloth (Oyarzabal, Min. 81) and Robert Navarro
Gates 0-1 min 32: Robert Navarro.
referee Pablo Gonzalez Strong
Yellow cards Iñaki (min. 46), Aihen Muñoz (min. 52), Carlos Doncel (min. 72) and Sörloth (min. 74)
Mallorca had to wait for extra time as the locals’ legs weighed more than their will and ideas didn’t flow as much as they did in ninety minutes. There were two solidarity claws between the Mallorcan strikers. The first, in a defensive error by Pontevedra. Kang In passed the ball to Muriqi, who was in front of goalkeeper Cortés, but instead of shooting, he gave way horizontally, allowing Abdón Prats to push the ball. Five minutes later the same thing happened, but in reverse; Abdón, who had everything in his favor, preferred to leave it to the Kosovar after a counterattack from a corner. The generosity was reinforced in the two goals that decided the tie.
Pontevedra, who had demanded the utmost effort from Mallorca to enforce the difference between the categories, broke up in extra time. Charles’ seniority didn’t help either, who, as happened this week with Lucas Pérez with Dépor, left the top flight while playing for Eibar to return to Pasarón. The Brazilian had the best local chance with a shot that Greif saved just off the post.
In another confrontation, Real Sociedad played their cup game as if it were a league game. Although rivals UD Logroñés are two categories down, they took it with the same seriousness as they did against Osasuna on the last matchday of last year to end up narrowly winning (0-1). The attitude helped as Las Gaunas can perfectly go through a First Division venue, almost full and with a pretty decent turf for what is common in the Bronze category. In addition, Imanol had already warned: The grass is no excuse.
And it wasn’t, because against an enthusiastic Logroñés he formed a very professional Real who knew what to do and what not to do. He grabbed the ball from the start and despite some skirmishes from La Rioja, he opted for patience to pierce Gonzalo’s goal. He didn’t despair of the failed arrivals or a crooked shot. With total control, he knew how to wait for his moment, which came after half an hour when Illarramendi, almost always good news for Real, launched a vertical pass that Brais unleashed between his legs as Robert’s career Navarro saw that crossed before the departure of the goalkeeper from Logroñés.
With a positive result, the realistic intensity of the first half did not decrease, but the second goal did not come, which in a way caused the outcome of the draw. The San Sebastián team came out in the second minute to settle matters as quickly as possible and tried to get dangerously close to Logroñés’ area but found Gonzalo’s performance, who flew to the post in the 49th minute combed to parry the ball by Merino after one of those poisoned deliveries from Brais that stun opposing defenses so much. Again, Merino hit Gonzalo with a shot.
Although La Real continued to be in command, after 15 minutes of the second set they looked at what was happening on the pitch with some suspicion as the result was poor and an accident could happen at any time. Taking more precautions, he urged Logroñés to fold to prevent them from reaching San Sebastián territory and managed to the end that Remiro had a quiet night apart from a few starts to clear the long balls, which were Logroñé’s only option. As a precaution, Imanol’s team, which was accompanied by numerous Txuriurdin fans, did not present any gifts. In the end, a very reliable Real, and also recognizable, sent his ball to Saturday’s draw.
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