In gold. For the suffering and for the venue. The draw achieved by SD Huesca at El Molinon is worth its weight in gold was. And even though the point does not seem enough considering the table, it is more than valuable to reinforce the most resilient version of Hidalgo’s team. Despite facing a powerful opponent that hit the post twice, they showed grit to fight and resist until the last of the six minutes of added time. To go through El Molinon without suffering, especially in a season where no team had taken three points yet, is a challenging task. And Hidalgo’s side experienced it first hand in the early stages of the match. The Azulgranas’ coach repeated the line-up that had earned them three points in the last league game before the Christmas break. He sought the same result, this time away from home, and in one of the toughest fields in the category, so it inevitably required them to roll up their sleeves.
The home team pressed hard, gaining control of the ball from the start, but hit the post in the 19th minute, which prevented them from taking the lead. Just two minutes later, Hassan sent the ball to the side of the goal after a neat combination from the left. SD Huesca resisted, with Obeng’s header testing Yañez after 26 minutes, straight into the goalkeeper’s hands. In the opposite area, Alvaro faced more challenges, preventing the opponent from taking the lead on two occasions, with a close-range shot in the 32nd and a long-range shot from Mesa just as the first half’s added time began, which ended with the initial score.
The woodwork was crucial again at the start of the second half, when Otero’s powerful shot following a counter-attack hit the post. Hidalgo made a change as his side returned to the field, replacing Obeng with Juanjo Nieto. However, Sporting continued to attack easily, prompting the Oscenses’ coach to bring in Kento Hashimoto for Iker Kortajarena. Almost as a reaction, SD Huesca had the clearest chance so far with a powerful shot from Hugo Vallejo that almost surprised Yañez.
The Altoaragoneses won the ball and gained presence in the opposition’s half, with Sielva shooting in a narrowly missed attempt. The team was encouraged, creating a sense of danger a few minutes later in a brilliant combination between Joaquin and Vilarrasa, with the latter taking the shot, but the local goalkeeper saved it not without difficulties. The game was about to conclude, with fifteen minutes left to play, as El Molinon pressed to support their team. It was time for the Oscenses to resist fiercely to secure a point, which seemed in jeopardy when the referee pointed to the penalty spot in a play that was later disallowed due to an offside. Three minutes remained for the Azulgranas to celebrate a hard-fought draw.
