La Liga’s Fish & Chip Wrappers
‘Match report Special’
Real Oviedo v Real Sporting de Gijón B
Estadio Carlos Tartiere ~ Sunday 13th February 18:30
Estadio Carlos Tartiere ~ Sunday 13th February 18:30
Oviedo, the alluring capital of Asturias, a province famed for fine cider and cheese.
Oviedo, the city that erected a life-sized statue of the screenwriter, director, actor, playwright, comedian, author and jazz musician, Woody Allen.
Oviedo, a place that, thanks to Woody Allen, can list actress Scarlett Johansson as one of its visitors, albeit provoked by the filming of ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’.
Oviedo, birthplace of Carmen Polo, the wife of General Franco, Caudillo de España.
Oviedo, home of Real Oviedo, Stanley Victor Collymore’s final football club, after a couple of substitute appearances he disappeared in his usual insouciant manner, later releasing a statement via his agent announcing his retirement.
Oviedo, the city that erected a life-sized statue of the screenwriter, director, actor, playwright, comedian, author and jazz musician, Woody Allen.
Oviedo, a place that, thanks to Woody Allen, can list actress Scarlett Johansson as one of its visitors, albeit provoked by the filming of ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’.
Oviedo, birthplace of Carmen Polo, the wife of General Franco, Caudillo de España.
Oviedo, home of Real Oviedo, Stanley Victor Collymore’s final football club, after a couple of substitute appearances he disappeared in his usual insouciant manner, later releasing a statement via his agent announcing his retirement.
The proud symbol of Real Oviedo, freshly painted...
Real Oviedo are currently lingering a few points above the drop zone of Segunda B Group 2, in layman terms, a kind of Division 3 (League 1 in English) but with tight restrictions on promotion. Worse still, the finances are in tatters and only a recent injection of cash, some say to the tune of 500,000 euros, is keeping the club afloat.
Financial mismanagement and irregularities hurt the club badly towards the end of the 90’s, Real Oviedo’s most successful period. During the 90’s under the guidance of Raddy Antic (Luton Town fans may remember him, David Pleat definitely does…) they were steady mid-table finishers with Robert Prosinečki in fine fettle, alongside current Portugal manager, Paulo Bento.
Fast forward to a rainy Sunday in February 2011 and one can hear the footfalls of a local derby, Sporting B, that’s right, Sporting reserves from neighbouring Gijón, visit Oviedo in a match that can only represent a chance to keep pride intact.
Financial mismanagement and irregularities hurt the club badly towards the end of the 90’s, Real Oviedo’s most successful period. During the 90’s under the guidance of Raddy Antic (Luton Town fans may remember him, David Pleat definitely does…) they were steady mid-table finishers with Robert Prosinečki in fine fettle, alongside current Portugal manager, Paulo Bento.
Fast forward to a rainy Sunday in February 2011 and one can hear the footfalls of a local derby, Sporting B, that’s right, Sporting reserves from neighbouring Gijón, visit Oviedo in a match that can only represent a chance to keep pride intact.
Alberto Vete Ya!
Hurt pride quickly assumes the form of anger, the game starts off as a fairly drab affair and after one too many misplaced passes by the home side, the atmosphere turns to one of frustration. Sporting B took the lead on 25 minutes through Cruz, converting the rebound from a well-struck free kick, an ill-advised celebration followed as Cruz ran to the corner flag, ala Roger Miller, and did a little wiggle. Two rotund teenagers with thatched roof haircuts ran down the stand to unleash a tirade of naughty words upon him and a mini-Ron Weasley threw a handful of sunflower seeds in that general direction, this all reported without a hint of sarcasm, it actually happened.
The second half was decidedly spicy. On 60 minutes an off-the-ball incident occurred leaving the Oviedo striker Rubiato pole-axed, the Sporting player in question, Alain, chased the referee around with ‘cupping spilled blood’ gestures. After a quick consultation with the lino, both saw red, a tunnel fight ensued.
The second half was decidedly spicy. On 60 minutes an off-the-ball incident occurred leaving the Oviedo striker Rubiato pole-axed, the Sporting player in question, Alain, chased the referee around with ‘cupping spilled blood’ gestures. After a quick consultation with the lino, both saw red, a tunnel fight ensued.
Ron (right) calms himself after the goal
The 70th arrived, Sporting saw red again, the old double yellow combo and we had 10 vs 9, Real Oviedo made good use of the space left vacated by the expulsions, except for the area that mattered most, efforts at goal flew high and wide to the point where I had to check Jason Lee wasn’t playing. In the final ten minutes further shots rained in but the fans behind the goal were under more threat than the net. Had Los Azules got the knack of staying onside there could well have been more opportunities to knock Ron Weasley out.
Eventually, the final whistle was blown, finishing Real Oviedo 0 Real Sporting de Gijón reserves 1. The boos rang around the 30,500 capacity stadium, the echoes not numbed by the crowd swell of just 8,000.
I felt sympathy for the home side, from gracing the top division to being humbled by their biggest rivals’ reserve team in a little over 10 years, however, on remembering that I was charged 25 euros for the pleasure, the pity abated fairly swiftly.
With the Oviedo connection in mind I was left to stroll home wondering if Stan Collymore ever approached Woody Allen for a film role. I imagine the Oviedo film cognoscenti wouldn’t pay 25 euros to watch that.
Eventually, the final whistle was blown, finishing Real Oviedo 0 Real Sporting de Gijón reserves 1. The boos rang around the 30,500 capacity stadium, the echoes not numbed by the crowd swell of just 8,000.
I felt sympathy for the home side, from gracing the top division to being humbled by their biggest rivals’ reserve team in a little over 10 years, however, on remembering that I was charged 25 euros for the pleasure, the pity abated fairly swiftly.
With the Oviedo connection in mind I was left to stroll home wondering if Stan Collymore ever approached Woody Allen for a film role. I imagine the Oviedo film cognoscenti wouldn’t pay 25 euros to watch that.
Whatever happened to 'Stan the Man'...
RSS Feed
