A playoff of pride, courage, and determination. Real Oviedo travelled to Eibar with the clear target of sealing a playoff spot, and the dream came true at Ipurúa. With one eye on events in the Eldense and Villarreal B matches, Luis Carrión opted for a starting eleven made up of Leo Román, Viti, Oier Luengo, Dani Calvo, Pomares, Colombatto, Seoane, Paulino de la Fuente, Masca, Borja Sánchez and Alemão.
The match couldn't have got off to a better start. Within the first 7 minutes Borja Sánchez gave the Asturians the lead, moving the side closer to the target. Despite the dream start, SD Eibar grew into the encounter, and were then awarded a very questionable penalty for a supposed Paulino handball. Aketxe converted from the spot to make the score 1-1.
The hosts stepped it up following the equaliser, and, although Real Oviedo had chances to add a second, it would be Eibar who took the lead. Some fine combination play ended with Sergio León heading home to make the score 2-1. The teams went in for the interval with Real Oviedo losing, but with Sporting and Racing both drawing 0-0.
Dubasin came on in place of Masca during the break, and Los Azules emerged strongly. The substitute went close to levelling with a header, but he was denied by a fine save by Luca Zidane.
Bastón and Sebas Moyano came on in the 65th minute, and after first hitting the crossbar, the striker would equalise in the 81st minute. The celebrations added to those started a few minutes earlier, following the Villarreal B goal against Racing de Santander, which had moved Real Oviedo back into a playoff place. The joy of the Borja Bastón goal was not to last, however, with Corpas making the score 3-2 from a counter attack in virtually the next passage of play.
Stoichkov and Bastón would both find the back of the net in the final minutes to make the final score 4-3, but in reality it didn't matter to Carrión's side, who had achieved their objective. Happiness, sweat, tears, and a lot of suffering took Real Oviedo to a completely deserved playoff place.
Real Oviedo will be up against SD Eibar once more next Saturday at the Carlos Tartiere. Now it's time to celebrate, before the team goes back to work on Tuesday. Saturday will see another 'cup final', as we fight to achieve the dream of promotion to the Primera División.
