Cazorla leads Oviedo to the final for promotion
The veteran midfielder turned the semifinal around after halftime and scored the 1-1 that eliminated Almería
Real Oviedo advanced to their second consecutive final in the promotion playoff to LaLiga EA Sports after a 1-1 draw on Wednesday against UD Almería at the Carlos Tartiere, where midfielder Santi Cazorla, at 40 years old, proved decisive.
The Spanish international, who returned to his hometown in August 2023 by his own request and for the minimum wage, came on after the break and changed the game with his vision and a stunning direct free-kick goal in the 49th minute that resulted in the definitive 1-1. Oviedo, who narrowly missed out last year against Espanyol, will once again compete in the final to return to LaLiga, facing either Mirandés or Racing de Santander with the second leg at the Tartiere.
The Andalusian side, who missed chances in the first leg, took the lead at the Tartiere after the first 45 minutes, thanks to Gonzalo Melero’s penalty near the half-hour mark, and were superior to Oviedo, who showed glimpses of talent but lacked their usual accuracy. For the first time in 12 matches, Veljko Paunovic’s Oviedo found themselves trailing, mere spectators to the visitors’ dominance.
Almería took control of the ball and created opportunities, with a dangerous Nico Melamed who won the penalty through a handball by Jaime Seoane and tested Aarón Escandell. Just when Oviedo seemed to shake off the opponent’s dominance, that penalty put Almería ahead. The reaction from Oviedo came through the wing play of Rahim Alhassane and Haissem Hassan.
The halftime break saw parity, promising a second half full of action, and Paunovic tilted the balance by bringing on Cazorla. The Asturian maestro changed Almería’s dominance in midfield and, within four minutes, scored the equalizer in a free-kick he had won himself. Rubi’s side disappeared without the ball, while Oviedo missed chances to seal the victory through Hassan’s efforts.
With 20 minutes left, Almería searched desperately for an opportunity, missing Luis Suárez, and came close to scoring. Nico Melamed and Marezi hit the woodwork, and in the back and forth, Federico Viñas scored for Oviedo but was ruled offside. The Tartiere erupted in celebration, hoping for a return to LaLiga 24 years later.
TECHNICAL DETAILS.
–RESULT: REAL OVIEDO, 1 – UD ALMERÍA, 1. (0-1, at halftime).
–LINEUPS.
OVIEDO: Aarón Escandell; Nacho Vidal, David Costas, Dani Calvo, Rahim; Sibo, Colombatto (Portillo, min.90), Hassan (Luengo, min.84), Seoane (Cazorla, halftime); Ilyas (De la Hoz, min.84) and Alemao (Viñas, min.62).
ALMERÍA: Fernando; Arnau Puigmal (Pozo, min.71), Chumi, Édgar (Fettal min.90), Langa (Centelles, min.71); Kaiky (Marezi, min.77), Lopy, Melero; Melamed (Baptistao, min.77), Arribas and Lázaro.
–GOALS:
0 – 1, min.24, Melero (penalty).
1 – 1, min.49, Cazorla.
–REFEREE: González Esteban (C. Vasco). Booked Calvo (min.58) and Rahim (min.77) for Oviedo. And Lázaro (min.48) and Pozo (min.96) for Almería.
–STADIUM: Carlos Tartiere, 25,921 spectators.
