Seville broke the curse of Athletic Club after six finals without lifting the trophy. Not only Muniain raised the Copa del Rey. This title also belongs to Julen Guerrero, Etxeberria, Yeste, Javi Martínez, Laporte, San José, Urzaiz, Gurpegui, Susaeta and Tiko, among others, who are part of the Athletic Club legend. 40 years later, La Gabarra will cross the Nervión estuary.
The Spanish anthem could barely be distinguished in the run-up to the Copa del Rey final at the La Cartuja Stadium. The Athletic fans, He didn’t whistle much but sang his ‘Goazen Athletic’ chant, silencing the moment..
Nico Williams took advantage of a Mallorca error before the first minute and rode towards Greif’s goal. The ball did not find the three posts, but it showed signs of how Ernesto Valverde’s men took to the field.
It was Galarreta who had two chances after the quarter-hour mark to put the lions ahead, but the Slovakian became big and rejected the shot.
Just a minute later Mallorca replied after an error by the youngest Williams. Muriqi hit and Aguirrezabala cleared when in doubt.
Javier Aguirre’s slate came to light. Samu Costa combs it and Dani Rodríguez, after Darder’s attempt and Aguirrezabala’s save, manages to place it in the squad after Raíllo’s drop shot and put it ahead of Mallorca.
The Mallorcan goal spurred Athletic on and they were determined to tie the game before the break
An almost millimeter offside deprived the equalizer in the first instance, after a wall with Galarreta. Two minutes before the break, he faced Greif but the ball grazed the post.
The prize for the Basques came after the restart. Valverde’s team, including the change of Vesga for Prados, came out much more determined and incisive than in the first 45 minutes against a Mallorca that lost positions on the La Cartuja mat.
The connection between the two most active and decisive men in Athletic, Nico and Sancet, found the vermilion net this time. He filtered the first in depth, and the playmaker elegantly defined the long post.
The athleticzale stands erupted and the game revved up. Nico again, of course, marked an individual move from his repertoire but found no response from either Guruzeta or his brother.
Aguirre quickly read that it was necessary to advance his team and change the dynamic and moved his chips with the entry of Morlanes and Antonio Sánchez. The skilled midfielder entered very well and shook Mallorca out of its lethargy.
After the midway point of the second half, the author who had established happiness in Mallorca in the first half left injured.
The substitutions and The work of Basque Aguirre’s men slowed down the pace of the game and the match headed into thirty extra minutes.
Thirty minutes that are not liked either in Bilbao or in Mallorca
Athletic Club lost the last Copa del Rey final in which they played extra time (1977), and Mallorca lost in the two that went to extra time (1991 and 1998).
Valverde took advantage to bring in captain Iker Muniain for a tired Sancetwhich had a great performance in the 90’s.
Athletic’s number 10 had it four minutes after the game resumed but his volley did not find the target.
The dominance of the Ibaigane team was growing and Muniain, in a foul near the front, again enjoyed another to break the deadlock in the first 15′ of extra time.
The insistence of Valverde’s men was almost fruitful after an action by De Marcos in the baseline that ended in Nico’s boots. Muriqi responded with a header that was thwarted by Aguirrezabala.
The penalty shootout handed down the sentence in Seville
The eleven meters were not avoidable and the penalties were taken at Athletic’s goal, a premonition of what would happen minutes later.
The round was started by Muriqi scoring and Raúl García equaled it. Aguirrezabala stopped Morlanes for the second and Muniain put Athletic ahead. Radonjic kicked him out and Vesga did not miss. Antonio Sánchez forced the Basques to throw away the fourth.
Berenguer looked at Greif, who guessed his side but could not prevent Athletic Club’s victory.
40 years later, La Gabarra will cross the Nervión estuary.
2024-04-06 23:13:24
#Muniain #lifts #Copa #del #Rey #Seville #years
