Numancia 1-Athletic Club 1: Cold and hot

The point harvested away has been the first result of 2005. The draw at one goal in the Numancia pitch leaves contradictory sensations, as the ruling cold and heat at Los Pajaritos. Cold when it comes to the weather and at the time of assessing the draw after being ahead. Hot in the stands with more than two thousand red-white fans that have not stopped cheering for the team at any time. In fact at the end of the match the players have thanked them for their encouragement.

The red-and-white start has been hot, with control of the game and a pair of occasions by Ezquerro in the first ten minutes, all of it in frozen area of the pitch, something that has gradually extended to the rest of the turf. After the good start, Tevenet has given a couple of warnings of what was to come in the second half, Orbaiz has tried from outside the area and Juanlu has connected a strong volley that has crashed against Gurpegi’s head. And between the corporal cold and the environmental heat, Del Horno has broken the nil-nil tie, with a header coming out of a corner, taking advantage of an extended first half.

The start of the second half has also been hot, but neither Gurpegi with a header, nor Prieto from a free kick have managed to increase the score and Numancia has drawn when it was at its worse and with the least of resources. A good distant shot by Tevenet has been favoured by the state of the pitch and it slipped under Aranzubia. With the draw came the worse moments for our team, with a great deflection by Aranzubia after a free kick by Tevenet and a ball that Pineda has sent out in the minute 75.

Athletic Club has reacted, although only Jonan has taken true danger, in the minute 88, but his closing finished in as a corner.

After obtaining an away point, now it is time for the Copa in Lanzarote. Precisely to prepare for Wednesday’s match, coach Ernesto Valverde will be present Sunday morning during the Navalcarnero-Lanzarote match, which is why he will not direct the training session.