Sevilla 2-Athletic Club 1: To lose by not knowing how to win

Athletic Club wasn’t able to control any of the points at stake in the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, in spite of enjoying the suitable conditions for it, and has fallen 2-1 before Sevilla. Maresca from a penalty and Kanoute have been the local scorers, while Aduriz scored his fifth goal in the short league time he’s been defending the rojiblanca jersey.

In these cases there are many things that can be reflected in black and white, but the match can be resumed in the following lines: Athletic Club accomplished the most difficult task during the first half; to quickly annul the rival’s advantage and, on the other hand, it has not known how to define what seemed so simple. When the second half began, Sevilla realized that the opponent was not going after the game and has taken the initiative as if it was the first half with equality of reserves. The worse came with the first occasion at the start of the second half, Sevilla got ahead on the marker and from there and until the end it has created its better occasions, totally the opposite of Athletic Club.

On this occasion it is not even worth the trouble to extend much on the performance of the referees. The penalty play that has given origin to the 1-0, in which Kanoute doesn’t show obvious protest, is debatable, and reviewed as well could also be whether Kanoute was offsides when Maresca combed the previous ball to the 2-1, but the key has been in that our team has not known how to achieve that which was necessary to take some of the points.

The trip has had in the end a lot of similarity with the one to Malaga. The team has traveled on a chartered flight wrapped by fans, in addition to the Andalusian followers or those from other provinces that have attended the match. The locals took an early lead on the marker, Aduriz drew before the break and when the rival was left with ten players the second goal arrived and with it the offensive impotence. It could be that the team has offered a better image against Sevilla or that it has created more occasions, but the result has been equally frustrating, and right now we live on results, whether the plays are pretty or not.

The first quarter hour of play blew over without danger, but suddenly the penalty arrived. Thank heavens this team presumably counts on the aid of Villar, a matter that moves to laughter if it weren’t for the graveness of the accusation and the difficulty of the situation it is going though. Maresca turned the penalty into the 1-0, with a flat and centred shot around the 16th minute of play.

Athletic Club’s reaction has been good and practically instantaneous. Yeste was deflected by Notario on a free kick in the minute 18, but Aduriz has scored the drawing goal in the 20. Maybe he didn’t connect as he would have liked, but the ball tamely looped over Notario until it lodged in the net. The match opened up and Saviola has shot a cross outside in the minute 22, Yeste has ended with a header directly to the hands of the goalie in the 26, Casas shot a line drive outside in the 31st minute and, again, Yeste with another header, though this time shot out, in the minute 34. On the local side, Kanoute left his calling card in a tremendous shot to the crossbar in the 36th minute, however the second yellow card shown to Dragutinovic in the minute 38 has somewhat cooled the local’s spirits. Despite it all, Adriano has made Lafuente work for the first time with a strong left shot in the 42nd minute.

At the break, the key was in how each team would come out of the changing rooms. Aitor Ocio substituted Saviola for Sevilla and Athletic Club didn’t make any changes which is why the tonic continued the same course as in the first half, in other words, Sevilla was still in charge of the encounter, in spite of the numerical inferiority.

The first goal occasion at the start-up was at the boots of Orbaiz in the 58th minute, but a defense deflected his free kick with a header from under the posts. Unfortunately, Kanoute did away with all our team’s noble intentions in the minute 60, when he swerved around well and shot quickly after receiving, though from a doubtful position, a ball combed by Maresca who, in that play, injured one of his Aquilles tendons, leaving Jordi in his place. Clemente made his moves to try to get the team to create more danger, but it has been in vain.

Etxeberria substituted Luis Prieto in the 65th minute, so Gurpegi passed on to play as centre and Yeste as center forward. Immediately Kanoute enjoyed a great occasion, ruined by Lafuente, like Joseba Etxeberria had in the minute 69, but his volley went slightly high.Urzaiz substituted Casas in the minute 71 and Amorebieta tried to surprise Notario from afar in the 74th minute. Puerta, who replaced Adriano, reinforced Sevilla’s marrow and Dañobeitia replaced Exposito in the 79th minute. The last minutes lapsed between a medley of cards. In spite of the six minutes ruled by the referee as injury time, the best opportunities came from the sevillistas, who took advantage of the holes and the desperation of a team that has not known how to play to win.

Finally, we’d like to point out that Carlos Gurpegi did not receive insults from rival fans and that Joseba Etxeberria has seen his fifth yellow card, which carries suspension and, therefore, he will not be able to participate in the vital match against Cadiz on Sunday, 12 March, at 17:00 hours in San Mamés. Just as occurred against Villarreal, the means will be put at the disposal of members who cannot attend the match so they can have the option of selling their seats.