Real Zaragoza had seemingly lost the game, as was only natural, when they found themselves two goals behind in the ninth minute of stoppage time, trailing 4-2. Rubo, with a header, insisted that this was not the case—that something could still be salvaged. He scored in the 99th minute. Cuenca joined the cause by winning a penalty in the 100th, and Jardí proved them right by scoring the goal that made it 4-4.
Real Zaragoza showed that they would not accept defeat simply because they had been told the match was over. They ultimately scored twice at the end of the game to earn at least a point, allowing them to remain sole leaders. Yes, by one point.
THE MATCH
There was only one change among the ten outfield players. Pereira replaced Escudero, while goalkeeper Westerveld returned after recovering from a minor injury, making it seem that Ibai was beginning to identify his preferred players. At least, on the surface.
A high-intensity match began between Atlético Madrileño and Real Zaragoza. It was a battle of effort and determination; in purely footballing terms, both sides fought for the ball, pressed and tried to suffocate the build-up. That made the contest increasingly entertaining.
Atlético Madrileño took the lead in Alcalá de Henares. They did so through two players who would not look out of place in La Liga. Right-back Romeo threaded a perfectly weighted pass to Kamate, who beat Westerveld with a low finish after seven minutes to make it 1-0 against Real Zaragoza.
Kamate, scoring Atlético's goal against Real Zaragoza. Photo: Atlético
They were a constant headache. Pereira struggled, repeatedly being beaten down that flank whenever the home side created danger. Romeo delivered another key ball in the 16th minute, this time to Domenech, in a move that could have proved decisive. Real Zaragoza survived after the forward's miss and improved from that point onward.
Their efforts paid off in the 23rd minute. Espiau turned Real Zaragoza's possession into a goal after Jamelli's cross into the heart of the box. The striker controlled the ball and unleashed a powerful shot into the back of the net, leaving Astrálaga with no chance.
There was more to come. Domenech and Espiau could easily have put their side ahead. Two minutes after the equalizer, Atlético's reserve-team forward found himself one-on-one with Westerveld but sent an almost certain goal over the bar. Then, practically in the next move, Ureña crossed for the striker in the 29th minute, but although he only had to head the ball between the posts, he sent it wide.
Centro Deportivo Alcalá stadium, where the match against Atlético Madrileño was played. Photo: Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza tried to create through football and crosses into the heart of the box, while Atlético Madrileño looked for Cubo or Domenech to get in behind and face Westerveld. Neither approach was effective enough to produce another goal, but both defenses—and Ademo in midfield for the Aragonese side—had to work hard. After the first 45 minutes, the score was 1-1 in an entertaining match.
SECOND HALF
This was when the madness began, in a second half worthy of a framed place in the season's highlights. Not because of outstanding footballing talent, but because of a goal festival that began, naturally, with an assist from a Romeo destined for the elite. The full-back produced a fine move that Domenech finished to make it 2-1 in the 55th minute.
Rubo had the answer. His first response, to be precise. Before that, however, Jamelli missed a penalty he had won himself in the 65th minute. Returning to the goals, the center-back sent a brilliant header into the back of the net to make it 2-2.
By then, in the 67th minute, there had already been two goals and a missed penalty. And there was still more to come. Miguel Gil made it 3-2 with another header from a poorly defended move in the 75th minute. Real Zaragoza suffered far too much at the back in this match. Then came the 4-2 in the 87th minute, scored by Muñoz after an apparent offside that looked very clear on television.
Under normal circumstances, the match would have ended there. Even more so once stoppage time began and reached the 99th minute. But Rubo, heading the ball once again, rejected that theory with an unstoppable effort to make it 4-3; Cuenca thought the same and won a penalty in the 100th minute; and Jardí proved the stubborn Aragonese right by scoring the equalizer to make it 4-4. A reward for their stubbornness that tasted very sweet.
MATCH DETAILS
Atlético Madrileño: Astrálaga; Romeo, Miguel Gil, Yaakobishvili (Lis, 53'), Arnau Sola; Thiago (Justo, 72'), D. García, Edgar (Taufik, 78'); Kamate (Muñoz, 78'), Cubo, Domenech (Mota, 78')
Real Zaragoza: Westerveld; Sangalli, Iranzo, Diego González, Pereira (Cuenca, 81'); Lucas Terrer (Saidu, 81'), Ademo, Rubén Díez (Pau Sans, 69'); Ureña (Barrachina, 46'), Espiau (Pau Sans, 69'), Jardí
Referee: José María Aranda. Booked Edgar (31'), Ureña (38') and Muñoz (80')
Goals: 1-0, Kamate (7'); 1-1, Espiau (23'); 2-1, Domenech (55'); 2-2, Rubo (67'); 3-2, Miguel Gil (75'); 4-2, Muñoz (87'); 4-3, Rubo (99'); 4-4, Jardí, penalty (100').
