Luis Núñez-Villavearán
Updated Wednesday, February 28, 2024-00:33
In the morning the Orio River overflowed as it passed through
Zubieta
.
But Mónica
's rain
, inclement, although it turned the sky black, it could not withstand the
impeccable
Anoeta grass.
On the green, two boxers were looking for history with the ball running from one side to the other.
First half of scoring, with more scratches than hits.
In the second the goals and the excitement that lasted until a frenetic overtime ended with the penalty lottery.
The ballot fell to Mallorca.
[Narrative and Statistics, 1-1]
Imanol Alguacil
asked for hell and what he got was a deluge.
But
Mallorca
, like a good island team, handles itself well in strong swells.
More endurance than
Rocky Balboa
.
The goal deserved it and he achieved it.
We are talking about the fourth final for Mallorca.
Aguirre had a must on his Spanish resume, that lost final with Osasuna against Betis in 2005.
Alguacil
wanted to match a blue and white idol,
John Benjamin Toshack
.
The Scot won the 1987 game against Atlético and lost the 1988 game against Barcelona.
The man from Orio already has the first Basque derby in his pocket and was looking forward to playing the second.
Few chances in the first half, a shot by
Zakharyan
that ended up in the hands of
Greif
and another cross by
Abdon Prats
, the top scorer of the Cup, after a kicking and trying play.
But a childish mistake by the Mallorca captain could have changed the direction of the match.
Raíllo
took out a hand to walk in a lateral center from
Zubimendi
when the first half was dying.
However,
Brais
did not take advantage of the opportunity and shot to low midfield.
Greif
did not bite and saved with his feet, denying the Txuriurdin midfielder any luck.
45 minutes less, 135 without goals.
But the 140 were not met because Mallorca
's wingers
did not want to leave this semifinal without goals.
Jaume Costa
threw a banana
after a volley from
Larin
, cleared by half a centimeter, and
Gio González
came in like a hammer to hit the header at the far post.
Unappealable.
The perfect setting for
Mallorca
, the perfect situation for
Javier Aguirre
and the perfect moment to bring out the pirate
Muriqi
, warming up on the wing.
And he came out with half an hour left for the top scorer of the Cup. Within a minute
Alguacil
responded by bringing out
Oyarzábal
, the Mr. Copa de la Real, the only one who has a solution to a team with hardly any goals.
The captain who gave the Copa del Rey to Alguacil after converting a penalty in La Cartuja.
Who else was going to tie the game in the 70th minute after a great attack from
Brais
.
It was also shortly after
Larin
could score for Mallorca but he missed the opportunity.
Samu's Miracle
Real pressed after
Oyarzábal
's goal with the support of their fans, but
Jaume Costa
silenced Anoeta for a few moments when he finished alone from the penalty spot on a counterattack.
The ball went high and the San Sebastian players were able to get air back into their lungs, which
Gil Manzano
took out when he declared the end of regulation time.
The txuriurdines contained it again after a double chance that Samu saved under the sticks with a header from
Merino
and a volley from
Tierney
.
The spectator doubted and the VAR doubted for a few minutes, because without goal technology, it was difficult to know if the Scot's ball completely crossed the line.
Overtime began as frenetic as the second half ended.
The one who pushed to decide before the penalties was
Mallorca
, physically stronger than the blue and white team.
He didn't give her time.
The lottery was playing and Greif rigged the hype and made
Oyarzábal
bitter .
An infallible shooter.
It was raining in Anoeta, La Real was crying.