Sociedad Deportiva Huesca suffered a last-minute heartbreak in LaLiga SmartBank matchday 24 against SD Ponferradina at El Alcoraz. In a match where the Azulgranas had to row upstream since Ponferradina took an early lead, debutant Pablo Martínez found the net in the 79th, but Ojeda’s injury time goal sent them to a 1-2 defeat in the 94th. Xisco’s side had levelled matters in the closing stages after a number of good chances in front of Amir, who produced an excellent performance with several brilliant saves, but when the wall seemed to have fallen and the Azulgranas looked set to earn a hard-fought point from a tight game, the second goal in the stoppage time left El Alcoraz breathless.
Xisco stuck to the team that beat Cartagena, keeping the new three signings – Lago Junior, Pablo Martínez and Timor – on the bench, waiting for their time to come on the pitch. However, the encounter began unfortunate for SD Huesca, as SD Ponferradina took an early lead by means of Dani Ojeda inside the box. VAR ruled his effort was onside after it had initially been disallowed. Rowing upstream since the beginning, Amir was called into action soon. Firstly, Seoane swivelled on the half-volley from outside the box in the 13th, but it was foiled by the goalkeeper. Shortly before the half-hour mark, Escriche had another one even clearer: it was a powerful header, palmed away by Amir again. Ferreiro’s and Ratiu’s crosses and Escriche’s finishes were not enough to level matters before the break in a match where SD Huesca struggled in front of a solid rival.
The second half saw a more intense Huesca who went in desperate search of an equaliser, and new players Lago Junior and Pablo Martínez stepped in soon. In the 66th, Escriche had a good opportunity but was once again undone by Amir. So was Lago Junior, following his shot on the turn just two minutes later. Timor became the third debutant of the evening, and shortly after, in the 79th, Xisco’s men found the well-deserved goal: Pablo Martínez chested the ball down inside the box and drilled a low shot with his left foot that found the net. The goal spurred El Alcoraz on on its 50th anniversary, and the Oscenses played for the victory until the final whistle, finding great support from a crowd pleased with what they were seeing but needing a goal. Far from that, the Azulgranas suffered the bitter taste of late defeat on a counter-attack. Ojeda, in the 94th, left Huesca with no points, having suffered a very clinical opponent.
