Athletic Club 0 Betis 0: Athletic says goodbye in the penalty shoot-out

Athletic Club and Real Betis scored a Nil Nil Draw in San Mamés. The Andalusian team beat the home team by 4-5 in the penalty shoot-out thus winning a place in the final. Unfortunately, as experience has shown us, there is a very fine line between happiness and sadness.

In moments like these there is little or no point remembering that our team deserved to win both matches. Again, it’s of no use repeating the outrageous declaration that stated that the referees were going to be partial towards Athletic Club. Nor that ending the match with a penalty shoot-out is like winning the lottery. It wasn’t meant to be and that’s all.

With San Mamés jam packed and an outstanding ambience in the stands, our players gave it all they got and then some. In such a difficult situation as this and despite the sterile match conclusion, the fans have been more than supportive and appreciated all the efforts made. Thank you.

Gurpegi and Yeste had their first opportunities less than fifteen minutes into the match, the encounter had been fairly balanced with the only danger coming just before the half time interval. First shot at goal by Tiko in the 42nd minute and later the first and only opportunity had by Betis during this half when Melli finished off a shot that was well deflected by Lafuente.

In the second half the rojiblanco dominance of the match was more obvious, but to no avail. In addition the team had to get over the loss Etxeberria who was injured and suffering discomfort in the isquiotibial muscle of his right leg. He was replaced by Ezquerro and Del Horno stepped in for Casas both changes being made at the same time.

During this period the only verdiblanco opportunity was carried out by Oliveira who took advantage of a bad Lafuente throw-in but was made up for with another good save by the goalkeeper. The rest of the red-white opportunities, started with the game being interrupted as a result of a penalty in minute 63 of the game, as fatefully indicated by the referee but the linesman had told him that the infraction had been committed outside.

Perhaps spurred on by the circumstances, Yeste and Tiko had a double opportunity in the 65th minute, Urzaiz with a header in the 78th, although the clearest belonging to Ezquerro, but his header flew over the cross bar in minute 86 of the game.

Extra time inevitable, coupled with the Betico tendency to look for penalties. Ezquerro had tried his luck in minute 103 of the match, whereas the only notable Betis opportunity consisted of a Juanito header to our goalkeeper in the 110th minute. Three minutes later the referee showed a tremendous lack of courage when a line shot by Ezquerro was intercepted by a defender who had touched the ball with his hand, and what’s more the defender was right in front of the referee. Ezquerro had yet another opportunity in the 114th minute, just like Gurpegi had. Llorente who had stepped in for Urzaiz well into extra time, also had an opportunity when he took a shot at goal in minute 117 of the game, however, it ended up being too high.

All of which was followed by the penalty shoot-out: 4-4 in the first round and 4-5 in the end. In something akin to the Russian roulette Del Horno and Ezquerro missed from eleven meters away and Betis will now play in the Copa final.

0-0 Del Horno, – 0-1 Assunçao a goal on behalf of Doblas
1-1 Yeste, goal – 1-1 Oliveira, over the crossbar
2-1 Tiko, goal – 2-2 Joaquin, goal
3-2 Orbaiz, goal – 3-3 Denilson, goal
4-3 Iraola, goal – 4-4 Lembo, goal
4-4 Ezquerro, – 4-5 Luis Fernández a goal on behalf of Doblas

This is the second time in four years that a tear-soaked locker room says good bye in the semi-finals. Athletic Club have once again shown dignity after the match, which will enable us to prepare for the encounters to come with the certainty of knowing that some day soon our time will come. Always Athletic!