The Carlos Tartiere stadium in Oviedo was buzzing with excitement as Real Oviedo and UD Almeria battled it out in the second leg of their promotion playoff for Spain's top flight, LALIGA. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, putting Oviedo on the brink of promotion thanks to their 2-1 victory in the first leg, managed by former Chivas and Tigres UANL coach, Veljko Paunovic.
First Half Tensions
The first half was a tight affair. Almeria took the lead in the 24th minute through a Gonzalo Melero penalty after an Oviedo defender was penalized for handball. Melero confidently converted, putting Almeria ahead 1-0 going into the break.
Cazorla's Magic Spark
The second half saw Oviedo come out with renewed determination. Just three minutes after the restart, veteran Santi Cazorla stepped up to take a free-kick just outside the Almeria box. With a moment of pure magic, Cazorla curled the ball over the wall and past the goalkeeper, Fernando Martinez, leveling the score at 1-1. The stadium erupted!
Close Call for Oviedo
Oviedo had a scare late in the game when Almeria struck the post in the 85th minute. But they managed to hold on, securing the draw and a place in the playoff final.
Cazorla: 'A Goal for the People'
Speaking after the match, Cazorla, who has now scored four goals this season, described his free-kick as 'a goal for the people'. His return to Oviedo has been a fairytale, and he continues to be a key player in their promotion push.
What's Next?
Real Oviedo now await the winner of the match between Mirandes and Racing de Santander to find out who they will face in the final. The dream of promotion to LALIGA is very much alive for Oviedo!