What a volley. What a sucker Osasuna is going to the Copa del Rey final for the second time in its history, 18 years after the first. Then, in 2005, they lost the title against Betis at the Calderón. Pablo Ibáñez's first goal with the rojillo first team is worth gold for the Navarrese club. Is history. What a premiere. It was in minute 116 and the shot, precious and precise, first of all, directly into the net, chilled the blood of Athletic and San Mamés by certifying Osasuna's ticket to La Cartuja on May 6.
Neither with 18 corners, nor the 23 shots, nor were the more than 40 crosses into the area enough for the people from Bilbao. Several very clear chances missed, especially two to the clouds of Nico Williams, and many saves by Sergio Herrera led the game to extra time, where Jagoba Arrasate's men leveled the game with the entry of Chimy Ávila. Pablo Ibáñez's great goal from the front ended the surprise and spread sadness in the stands of the Cathedral.
The harassment and pressure from the locals was total to the delight of the Bilbao fans, who filled San Mamés with a record number of throats: 51,544. The atmosphere was one of comeback and after 30 seconds, Sergio Herrera took the first big whistle when the San Mamés stands understood that the Osasuna goalkeeper already wanted to waste time. It was the confirmation that the second leg was going to be long, almost eternal, for the Navarrese. But all the suffering would end up being worth it for the Navarrese.
Valverde did not give a moment of truce and from the beginning he went for the final with up to five offensive players on the field. Sancet and Muniain, from interiors, did not stop supplying the three forwards with balls: Nico Williams, his brother Iñaki and Guruzeta. They were a constant source of danger until after half an hour Iñaki Williams equalized the tie after a corner kick taken by Muniain and combed by Vesga.
It seemed a matter of time, that it was almost inevitable that the second would arrive, but Del Cerro Grande annulled the 2-0 lead by the older Williams before the break. Occasions were not lacking. Yeray and Iñigo Martínez were close in set pieces but the two clearest were from the boots of Nico Williams, who sent two free balls skyward. In the first he was assisted by Iñaki after a magnificent counter in the open field. In the second, he picked up a good volley rebound from Raúl García with his left foot and a better response from Sergio Herrera. But with everything in his favour, the Spanish international was unsuccessful and the match went to extra time, where Pablo Ibáñez qualified Osasuna when the penalties were announced.
Athletic: Agirrezabala; De Marcos, Yeray (Vivian, m.91), Iñigo Martínez, Yuri; Vesga, Sancet (Adu Ares, m.111); Iñaki Williams, Muniain (Zarraga, m.99), Nico Williams (Berenguer, m.99); y Cruzeta (Raúl García, m.81).
Osasuna: Sergio Herrera; Moncayola, Aridane, David Garcia, Juan Cruz; torro; Rubén García (Darko Brasanac, m.66), Aimar Oroz (Pablo Ibáñez (m.100), Moi Gómez (Manu Sánchez, m.83), Abde (Kike Barja, m.66), and Kike García (Chimy Ávila, m.91).
Goals: 1-0, m.33: Iñaki Williams. 1-1, m.116: Paul Ibanez.
Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande (C. Madrid). He showed a yellow card to the locals Vesga (m.20) and Sancet (m.94) and to the visitors Torró (m.43), Kike Barja (m.74).
Incidents: second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals played in San Mamés before 51,544 spectators, record attendance for a football match at the Bilbao field
