Atletico of Madrid controlled the Cup match against Osasuna thanks to a spectacular goal by Fernando Torres. The first match of eighth finals celebrated at Vicente Calderon Stadium finished with a 1-1 tie that kept them alive to face the return match that will be played on Wednesday January 17th at Reyno of Navarra Stadium. F. Torres took the responsibility of the team when he was needed –when the team was on numerical disadvantage after the sending off Pablo- and he scored the tie goal with a strong shot that Ricardo couldn’t stop.

Aguirre recovered Costinha and Luccin for the match against Osasuna at the midfield, players that influenced the team play translating in minutes of possession: In spite of the Navarro’s players’ pressure Atletico knew how to keep the ball in their possession and how to drive it over the midfield. In spite of everything, the control of the game wasn’t translated in goal occasions because they didn’t find the red and white strikers towards Ricardo’s goal.

Navarra’s defence knew how to keep danger far away from the area and we had to wait till 24’ to see the first occasion: a Torres move at the right side that ended with a Costinha shot that left very close to the left post. Almost two minutes before the captain shone again executing a millimetric play with ‘Kun’ that left the Argentinean alone against Ricardo, but he sent the ball out.

Atletico lead and scared in the line up, the goal seemed to come in few minutes and that's how it happened, but on favor of Osasuna. The Navarros scored their first goal after a mistake in defence that Webó became in gold thanks to a pass by Flaño. The red and white team didn’t give up and they looked for a goal until the break of the match in two new closeness by F. Torres, but in one occasion the defence and in another Ricardo blocked the danger caused by the captain.

Things were worst in the second half. The referee punished Pablo with a red card in a strong foul to Webó at the first minutes of the second half of the match and Atletico was obliged to rebuild their lines to face up the remaining 40 minutes with guarantees. Javier Aguirre’s players insisted to look for the right way to Ricardo’s goal against an Osasuna with the only ambition to keep their rent.

The Mexican coach decided to move the line entering Gabi instead of Mista with the intention to recuperate presence at midfield. It seemed impossible to tie the match against a tidy and without concession’s Osasuna, but Fernando emerged: Number ‘9’ controlled a long ball at the left corner of the area, dribbled his marker and executed a master shot very close to the right crossbar, an unstoppable shot for Ricardo who couldn’t do anything to prevent the tie.

The last part of the match was a red and white monologue, while the Navarros hardly got close to Cuellar’s area giving the tie as good. Finally the pass to quarter finals will be decided next week at Reyno of Navarra Stadium.


Photo: www.clubatleticodemadrid.com