Osasuna fuels his cupbearer desire in San Mamés

A goal from Ibáñez in extra time made it 1-1 and qualified the rojillos for the final

MADRID, 4 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS)

CA Osasuna reached the Copa del Rey final on Tuesday, the second in its history in this competition, after drawing (1-1) with Athletic Club in the second leg of their semi-final tie, thanks to to a nice volley goal executed by the homegrown midfielder Pablo Ibáñez when extra time was dying.

Ibáñez thus silenced the stands of San Mamés, whose great atmosphere could not be rewarded with the qualification of his team for the match for the title. That fervor, with an attendance of 51,544 spectators to set a record in the new Bilbao stronghold, had spurred the 'lions' to dominate the ball from the start.

However, the clarity of Athletic only existed in the early stages on the far left, with a quick Nico Williams falling to receive. From that insistence came the best weapon for the locals, forcing corner kicks with ease.

Finishing the plays was a clear order from their coach Ernesto Valverde, like a header at the far post by Óscar de Marcos after a cross from Gorka Guruzeta from the opposite side, having controlled inside the area towards the end line.

Sergio Herrera, well positioned in his goal, showed confidence to deflect that shot off the field. The 32nd minute was running and it was the prelude to 1-0, in another corner where the midfielder Mikel Vesga won the jump to his defender on the edge of the small area to prolong the ball and favor Iñaki Williams.

The international attacker for Ghana handled the rival marking well and made a foreshortening to stretch until he clinched the goal with his left-footed boot, beating Herrera point-blank and thus neutralizing the 1-0 in the first leg with which Osasuna had planted himself in Bilbao .

The rojillo team responded quickly with a charge from Kike García down the left flank that ended up in a shot, dry and centered, but repelled by the 'león' goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala. On the rebound, Kike García attempted another shot while Íñigo Martínez raised his leg excessively to clear.

Despite the complaints about that incident and his immediate continuation with the loose ball, quite similar with another Osasuna footballer, referee Del Cerro Grande did not say anything. The possible penalty had flown over San Mamés and the public understood it as a signal to continue pressing.

It had an effect with another goal from Iñaki Williams, although it was disallowed due to a fairly obvious offside, after a tempered cross from his brother Nico that had crossed the center line. The game then went into a tailspin, in such a way that not even with the refreshment of the break did the people of Pamplona dare to seek a tie.

In fact, Nico had it in his boots to extend the red and white advantage in the 70th minute. Following a counterattack, the youngest of the Williams brothers entered the area but sent his shot skyrocketing, almost tracing another good opportunity to score a goal. quarter of an hour later.

VOLLEY OF THE CANTERANO IBÁÑEZ TO THE BACK OF THE NET

Neither those two occasions, nor another from Guruzeta more out of heart than skill, could prevent the duel from going to extra time. Athletic pushed more than their opponent, but Jagoba Arrasate's pupils withdrew well in defense and patiently macerated their great chance to score.

Already with Luis Ezequiel 'Chimy' Ávila on the pitch at San Mamés, improving his physical condition, a stretched attack on the right side was resolved with a dangerous center looking precisely for Ávila. A bad clearance from Athletic left the ball loose in the area, controlled by Jon Moncayola to get another cross to the crown.

That's where Ibáñez appeared, in areas he doesn't usually frequent, to hit a precise volley with his right foot that entered Agirrezabala's goal at mid-height and close to the post. Although Valverde's men followed him in added time, Herrera was not intimidated and his team secured the ticket to play the cup final 18 years later.

DATASHEET.

--RESULT: ATHLETIC CLUB, 1 - OSASUNA, 0 (1-0, at halftime and at the end of regulation time).

--LINEUPS:

ATHLETIC CLUB: Agirrezabala; De Marcos, Yeray (Vivian, min.92), Íñigo Martínez, Yuri; Vesga, Sancet (Malcom, min.111); Iñaki Williams, Muniain (Berenguer, min.99), Nico Williams (Zarraga, min.99), and Cruzeta (Raúl García, min.81).

OSASUNA: Herrera; Moncayola, Aridane, David García (Moreno, min.91), Cruz; Rubén García (Brasanac, min.66), Torró, Moi Gómez (Manu Sánchez, min.83), Aimar (Ibáñez, min.100), Abde (Barja, min.66), and Kike García (Chimy Ávila, min. 94).

--GOALS:

1-0, min.33: Iñaki Williams.

1-1, min.116: Ibáñez.

--REFEREE: Del Cerro Grande (C. Madrid). He yellow carded Vesga (min.21) and Sancet (min.94) for Athletic Club, and Torró (min.43) and Barja (min. 75) for Osasuna.

--STADIUM: San Mamés, 51,544 spectators.