San Sebastian (Spain) (AFP)
Real Sociedad beat Petit Poucet Mirandés, the only second division club still in the running, 2-1 Thursday in the semi-final first leg of the King's Cup, and took an option on the final where it could find Athletic Bilbao , winner of Granada 1-0 on Wednesday.
A 100% Basque final in the King's Cup? This is the direction indicated by the semifinals to go, with, Thursday evening, the narrow success of Real Sociedad, thanks to a quick penalty from captain Mikel Oyarzabal (9th), awarded after a stroller in the area of Odei Onaindia on Portu, then a second goal from the Norwegian prodigy Martin Odegaard (42nd), a few minutes after the equalization of Matheus Aias for the Mirandés (40th).
A Basque derby in a King's Cup final would be unprecedented, despite the 23 editions won by the players from Bilbao and the two trophies lifted by those from San Sebastian.
But to reach the final level, the two Basque teams will have to validate their tickets during the return semi-finals, next March 4 and 5.
For the Real Sociedad, the qualification is far from being established: even if the men of Imanol Alguacil took an edge Thursday, they were not enough as sharp as usual in attack, as in their successes against Real Madrid 4-3 in the quarterfinals, or against Bilbao 2-1 on Sunday in the Basque Liga derby.
And they were even mistreated by the lightning strikes of the Mirandés players, who managed to pass nine goals to three Liga teams in this King's Cup, eliminating Celta Vigo, Sevilla FC and Villarreal, in quarters, last week (4-3).
The teammates of Jon Guridi and Martin Merquelanz, former boarders of Real Sociedad now at Mirandés, had opportunities to worry the Basque doorman Alex Remiro (15th, 46th, 51st), in particular striking the first framed shot of the match (5th ).
But this away goal is enough to make their hope last, and the poster for the final, scheduled for April 18 at the Cartuja stadium in Seville, is still open.
© 2020 AFP