Just over a quarter of an hour had passed when the scoreboard read 2-2. At the end of the first half, Moyano and Keita were sent off after receiving second yellow cards. When the game appeared to be heading in Huesca’s favor, the visitors ran out of ideas. There was nothing more they could do.
THE MATCH
It was a crazy first half, in which almost everything happened. And it happened very early, because Jaén scored after just 14 seconds. Martos caught the entire S.D. Huesca defense napping and only had to carry the ball forward, pass to Siverio and watch him make it 1-0. It was as if Huesca had started the match already trailing.
Jardiel’s side did not have to wait long to equalize. They quickly got to work and, in the ninth minute, Salva Ruiz sent a pass over the defense that Iván Rodríguez finished off perfectly. He headed it over the goalkeeper to make it 1-1.
With no time to recover, S.D. Huesca conceded a second blow. The move was almost a carbon copy of the first. After the restart, Moha Keita received a through ball and struck it, testing Gazzaniga, who could only parry it away. Another Moha, Sanhaji, escaped the still-sleeping defense and made it 2-1 for Real Jaén.
Huesca players celebrate a goal against Jaén. Photo: S.D. Huesca
Huesca would recover once again. Rafa Tresaco was alert when pressing the home side’s build-up. He only had to intercept a poor pass in the 16th minute and skillfully send the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-2, the final score.
From then on, several goals could have been scored at either end. But it seemed that all the goals had been scored within the opening quarter of an hour. With no further goals, the sending-offs just before halftime took center stage: Keita received a second yellow after slipping while challenging for the ball, while Javi Moyano was booked twice for protesting, resulting in a red card.
Just before halftime, S.D. Huesca had victory handed to them on a plate. All they had to do was take advantage of their two-man superiority.
SECOND HALF
Jardiel saw an opportunity to win in such a favorable situation: eleven against nine. Therefore, at halftime, he made a triple substitution: Cristian Herrera, Jimmy and Douglas came on at La Victoria in place of Iván, Sielva and Diego Gómez.
But the move had no effect. It did absolutely nothing. Huesca had some possession, but nothing more. With two extra players, they were unable to trouble Morillas in the slightest, and he had no work to do. The minutes continued to pass.
Urgency weighed on an increasingly attacking Huesca side that was, at the same time, running out of ideas to cause damage. The few chances came through sheer pressure, not football. Real Jaén grew increasingly comfortable. The match reached stoppage time in exactly the same fashion, and then came to an end. Huesca could not beat nine men, and the score remained 2-2.
MATCH DETAILS
Real Jaén: Morillas; Moha, Javi Moyano, Álex Pérez, David Serrano; Josué, Adri Paz (Mauro, 46’), Caballero (Nacho Castillo, 71’); Mario Martos (Busi, 57’), Siverio (Yanis, 71’), Moha Keita
S.D. Huesca: Gazzaniga; Víctor García, Guillem Molina, Salva Ruiz, Iván R. (Cristian H., 46’); Sielva (Jimmy, 46’), Mario García, Luismi (Sergi Enrich, 80’); Diego Gómez (Douglas, 46’), Diego Collado, Rafa Tresaco (Osán, 65’)
Goals: 1-0, Siverio (1’); 1-1, Iván R. (9’); 2-1, Moha (11’); 2-2, Tresaco (16’)
Tresaco was booked (55’). Moha Keita (45+5’) and Javi Moyano (45+5’) were sent off after receiving second yellow cards.
