Sporting Gijón 2-2 Real Mallorca
Real Mallorca have progressed to the next stage of the Copa del Rey after a 2-2 draw at Real Sporting de Gijón sealed a 5-3 aggregate win. Two goals from Emilio Nsue inside the first 15 minutes all but put the tie to bed.
Michael Laudrup once again rotated his side for the cup, allowing chances for Germán Lux, Pina and Tejera, amongst others. But it was a new member of the first team that stole the limelight again. After months of talks about whether Nsue could reach his potential and whether he’d be effective in the Mallorca first team, he once again proved his doubters wrong.
It was Frenchman Michael Pereira who had the best chance very early on, but he could only direct his tame shot at Cuéllar. Pereira made up for his mistake, however, when he returned Kevin’s pass after the left back had burst forward. After the young Spaniard got himself into a fantastic position, he squared the ball for Nsue who slid in to put Mallorca 1-0 infront to make it 4-1 on aggregate, and a huge task for the home side.
Soon after, fantastic link up play by the away side and a great Tejera through ball saw Emilio Nsue in on the goalkeeper. The Spaniard showed brilliant composure to dink the ball over the top of Cuéllar to make it 2-0 and put the game beyond doubt just 15 minutes into the second leg.
Sporting were given a lifeline 25 minutes in, however, when a long ball was met by Jorge on the right hand side of the penalty area. His cross came of the arm of left back Kevin and the referee decided to give what was a harsh penalty decision. Bilic sent the resulting penalty too far to Lux’s right hand side to pull a goal back for the home side.
Jonathan de Guzmán had a chance to restore Los Bermellones’ two goal lead into the second half when Cuéllar rushed out of goal to clear a ball. His rushed kick, however, fell straight to the feet of the Canadian. But his shot curled away from goal.
And when Mallorca failed to clear from a Sporting attack, a long range attempt from young substitute Juan Muñiz fizzed through the crowd and past an unsighted Lux to equalise.
Despite the goal, Sporting still had a mountain to climb as Mallorca’s game continued to die out. And aside from Nsue’s chance to complete his hat-trick, a chance which he placed over the bar, only Sporting looked like scoring. And they twice hit the bar in the final stages, but couldn’t quite build the momentum to get past the Mallorca side.
Despite the failure to hold onto a two goal lead, Laudrup can take solace in the performances of Kevin, de Guzmán and Nsue. Especially the latter, who will be difficult to hang onto in the summer if his performances continue in this manner.
The draw for the remainder of the tournament will be made on Thursday 18th November.
Teams
Real Sporting de Gijón (4-5-1): Cuéllar; Sastre (José Ángel 52), Gregory, Jorge, Lora; Eguren, Portilla, De las Cuevas, Bilic, Ayoze (Juan Muñiz 52); Sangoy (Luis Morán 64).
Goalscorers: Bilic 26 pen; Juan Muñiz 63.
Real Mallorca (4-2-3-1): Lux; Cendrós, Rubén, Martí Crespí, Kevin; Joao Victor, Martí (c) (Pina 76); Nsue, Pereira (de Guzmán HT), Tejera (Ayoze 64); Webó.
Substitutes: Nadal; Ratinho, Nunes, Ayoze; Pina, de Guzmán; Cavenaghi.
Goalscorers: Nsue 10, 15.