Sometimes, persistence pays off. And that reward was achieved by Gernika, who beat Mutilvera 1-0 in a match in … the one who was superior to his rival, but in which he had to wait until the 85th minute to capture that superiority on the scoreboard. Okolo’s goal gave him three points that break the series of three games without winning and reinforce the playoff options for Jabi González’s team.
Guernsey
San Nicolas; Lorente, Berasaluce, Beñat Gómez; Agirrezabala, Kortazar (Zugazaga, min. 74); Fruniz, Vélez (Arberas, min. 90), Aguirre (Izan, min. 62), Morales (Auzokoa, min. 74); and Around
1
–
0
Mutilate
Ojer Hugo Terés, Lizarraga, Pablo Grande; Biesa (Arocena, min. 62), Tiago; Banzo (Bujanda, min. 62), Aranguren (Roldán, min. 71), Xabi Goñi (Goiko, min. 82), Roncal; y Telletxea (Ardanaz, min. 62).
-
Gol:
1-0 Around (min. 85). -
Arbitrator:
Calvo Martínez (Rioja Committee). He gave a yellow card to the Gernika players Beñat Gómez, Lorente and Agirre; and the Mutilvera footballers Pablo Grande, Aranguren, Tiago and Roldán. -
Incidents:
Urbieta, before 450 spectators.
The contest began with both teams alternating possession of the ball. However, Gernika soon began to take the helm of the clash, which had the first chances of the clash. Ojer had to intervene, for the first time, after a direct free kick taken by Agirre. Mutilvera’s plan was clear: be well grouped, with the lines together and in some isolated play or in a counterattack, surprise the Gernikarra team.
Morales, who received the ball with his back to the goal, turned to get rid of his opponent and shot, but his shot went wide. From that action by the Biscayan team, the match entered a sudden phase in which the referee stopped the match on several occasions to caution several of the protagonists.
In the second half, the Navarrese squad came out with the intention of commanding and creating danger in the San Nicolás area. However, that momentum was short-lived. From a quarter of an hour after the restart, Gernika once again subdued Álvaro Garrido’s team. In this section of the contest, the coaches of both teams made the subsequent carousel of changes. One of them, Zugazaga’s entry through Kortazar, due to physical discomfort.
The team coached by Jabi González continued to insist, although without being able to materialize the continuous arrivals in front of Ojer’s goal, a situation that changed in the 85th minute. Okolo, attentive in the small area, was correct to push the ball into the goal and give value to the center served from the right. The 1-0 score unleashed joy among the fans present in Urbieta and among the members of the Gernikarra team’s bench, who came out to celebrate the goal effusively.
After the goal obtained, Jabi González’s team maintained the same plan and went for the second goal. Fruniz, with a shot from outside the area, could have extended the lead, but Ojer made a good save. When the match was about to end, Mutilvera had one last chance, although Goiko’s shot went slightly off the goal defended by San Nicolás.
