2024-01-06 19:55:44
In an exercise of impeccable efficiency, Girona sneaked into the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey. Efficiency from set pieces when Blind scored after a rehearsed play at the exit of a corner kick. AND maximum effectiveness completing Yan Couto a superb counterattack that annihilated any hope for a tenacious Elche, which overwhelmed the co-leader of the League more than this result shows. They still haven’t lost away from Montilivi, whether in the League or the Cup, having already completed the third round. And it’s been almost six months.
When he wanted to threaten Elche, he encountered the hands and reflexes of Juan Carlos when he deflected a very dangerous header from Sergio León. Míchel took the Cup seriously, no matter how much he changed goalkeeper. And he did not use who he had used in the two previous games, which was Toni Fuidias. It was the turn of an excellent and attentive Juan Carlos, who was accompanied in Elche by four starters: Eric García, Miguel, Iván Martín and Yan Couto.
Eric García injury
Then, the technician modified its entire structure. The co-leader of the League started somewhat asleep, suffering from Elche’s push, especially in the opening five minutes. Then, Girona tamed the game until they received bad news. Eric García had to ask for a change because he was injured, which forced Blind to come off the bench cold.
Elche threatened a lot (up to 9 shots), although they had little aim in the first half. Just one shot between Juan Carlos’s three sticks. And from a set piece, Míchel showed that his notebook works wonderfully. It already happened to him against Atlético when A corner kick served by Aleix García and extended by Dovbyk led to Daley Blind’s goal. It was then 3-1 to Simeone’s team (m. 39).
And the same scene was repeated at the Martínez Valero when from the corner Portu served a ball cleverly headed by Solís at the near post to provide assistance, taking advantage of a series of previous blocks so that another striker appeared at the far post. Sorry, he wasn’t a striker. He was, again, Blind (m. 37).
Two games, two goals. Both in the small area, a few centimeters from the goal line. This is how the 33-year-old centre-back is performing now. He barely needed seven minutes at the Martínez Valero to make it 0-1 for Girona.
Girona started sleeping in the first half. He also started sleeping in the second, as demonstrated by an intolerable loss by Iván Martín on the edge of the area that triggered a very clear chance for Elche. But Rodrigo Mendoza’s shot, who was alone on the edge of the small area, escaped near Juan Carlos’s right post.. Beccacece, the Argentine coach, was desperate and rightly so. There are few such occasions. And mistakes like that Elche couldn’t allow.
Perfect counterpunch
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After that failure by Girona, a quick response came with a well-constructed attack by Portu, finished off wisely by Valery, although it ran into the hands of San Román. But that feeling of overwhelm in Juan Carlos’s home did not disappear completely, as Míchel’s team fell victim to the voracious pressure from Elche, which hinted a lot, and well, but finished with little success.
Then, after a stop by Juan Carlos, Girona signed a textbook counterattack. From the right side to the right winger, everything was driven with the patient speed of Portu and the indomitable gallop of Yan Couto who finished the action as if he were a lifelong striker. When the co-leader of the League suffered the most, he unleashed a flash of enormous quality. And Portu, who assisted Iván Martín in the 4-3 win against Atlético, repeated in Elche by giving a goal assist to Yan Couto in the 0-2 lead.
The Elche-Girona record (0-2)
Elche: St. Roman, Carreira, Peter Bigas, Clerc, Mendoza, Tete Morente, Gaspar, Mwankwo, Phebas, Nico Fernandez and El Ghezouani.
Coach: S. Beccacece.
Changes: Josan por Bigas (d. 64); Sergio León for El Ghezouani (d. 75); Castro by Febas (d. 75); Fidel by Gaspar (d. 89); Borja Garcés by Nico Fernández (d. 89).
Girona: Juan Carlos, Arnau, Eric García, Juanpe, Miguel, Solís, Iván Martín, Yan Couto, Portu, Valery and Stuani.
Coach: Michel.
Changes: Blind por Eric García (d. 30); Dovbyk by Stuani (d. 75); I. Kebe by Solís (d. 75); Pablo Torre by Iván Martín (d. 84); Aleix García por Portu (m. 84)
Goals: 0-1, Blind (m. 37); 0-2, Yan Couto (m. 67)
Referee: Alberola Rojas, Castilian-La Mancha.
Yellow cards: Peter Bigas (m. 24); Black Body (n. 90+1)
#Blind #Yan #Couto #Girona #Cup