Girona is choking on the Copa del Rey. It has never been a tournament that he has been particularly good at, but being eliminated in the second round against an opponent three categories below was not part of Míchel's plans.
Neither the innumerable casualties nor the deplorable state of the pitch nor the lack of competitive rhythm due to the World Cup break serve as an excuse. The defeat at the hands of the modest Cacereño was worthy from start to finish. There was not even the ability to react when the local team took the lead again in the second half. This time Stuani, savior in the previous round in Quintanar del Rey, could not help being surprised.
Míchel's great concern was to see how the Príncipe Felipe field would be. Last weekend, Cacereño was forced to suspend his game due to the Efraín storm because the field was impassable. Yesterday it was possible to play, but it was not in optimal conditions. The ball barely ran and Girona had a hard time proposing, somewhat equalizing the forces.
The initiative belonged to the Catalans, but the first to hit was the local team. A defensive mismatch for Girona, greatly diminished at the back –Terrats accompanied Bueno, the only center back available, in the center of defense– allowed Manchón to receive without opposition and assist David Grande to score at will.
The red-and-whites were not impressed by that setback. Hitting Iván Moreno in the area was rewarded when a pass at the first touch dismasted the Extremadura defense. The ball stopped, but it was loose inside the area, a piece of candy for Taty Castellanos.
The electronic marked 1-1 at half an hour. It seemed a matter of time before the Catalans imposed their superiority after the initial scare. Nothing is further from reality. The lack of intensity and drive from the visiting team worsened after the break, when they conceded the second goal. A bit precious from Iván Fernández.
Juan Carlos, the protagonist in the final stretch, could do little. With Girona overturned, the goalkeeper from La Mancha avoided further ridicule by deflecting another ball to the post and frustrating a double chance from Extremadura. The Girona team now has to think about the League, recover troops and start preparing for the game against Rayo.
2 - CP Farmer: Ivan Brown; Peter (Water min. 76), Cape, Traore, Gomis; Ruman (Ruman min. 57); Bermu (Clausi min. 57), Manchon, Karim (Ivan Fernandez min. 57), Garci and Grande (Solano min. 70).
1 - Girona FC: Juan Carlos; Arnau, Miguel, Couto (Stuani min. 57), Santi Bueno; Terrats (Samu Saiz min. 67), Aleix García, Oriol Romeu; Toni Villa (Valery min.67), Castellanos and Iván Martín.
Goals: 1-0 Big, min.17; 1-1 Castellanos, min.30; 2-1 Iván Fernández, min.61;
Referee: Alberola Rojas (Castilian-La Mancha committee). He booked Karim in the 22nd minute; Oriol Romeu in minute 43; Bermu in 49;
Incidents: Match of the second round of the Copa del Rey played at the Príncipe Felipe stadium before some 5,200 spectators.
