MADRID, 3 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Athletic Club successfully managed (4-1) the visit of Cádiz on matchday 20 of LaLiga Santander held this Friday in San Mamés, thanks to goals from Oihan Sancet, including a hat-trick, and from Yeray Álvarez, after a very complete match for Ernesto Valverde who had to play almost the entire second half with one less after Yuri was sent off.
The locals, who had not yet won in the domestic championship since the return to competition after the World Cup break, returned to the path of victory to look again at the European squares, against a Cádiz that will continue one more day in relegation places. The spectacular game of the rojiblanco youth squad, who signed his hat-trick when they were outnumbered, was too much punishment for an Andalusian team that came to put up a fight.
In the first game of the second round of LaLiga Santander, both teams staged a frantic start with chances in one goal and the other. Although ‘Los Leones’ were the first to threaten with a shot from Nico Williams that was caught by Ledesma, the Cadista reply was not long in coming from Bongonda, who ended up smashing the ball into the side of the net.
In the exchange of blows it was the turn of an Athletic that this time did not fail when barely ten minutes of play had elapsed. Sancet connected a powerful shot from inside the area that just touching Luis Hernández slipped between the three sticks. Despite the blow, the Andalusians knew how to react and as a result of their insistence they equalized after 25′.
Gonzalo Escalante, in his first start after his signing in this winter market for those in yellow, took advantage of a magnificent play by Brian Ocampo on the baseline, leaving De Marcos, to arrive unmarked and push the ball into the back of the net . Good reaction from Sergio González’s men who from then on began to discuss the ball with the locals.
However, San Mamés worked its magic and before half time ‘Los Leones’ dealt the final blow. First, Sancet scored his double on 35′, after a defensive error by Cádiz when it came to getting the ball out from behind, which he did not miss with a shot at the near post, and then with Yeray’s goal on 43′, after finish off with pleasure a lateral free kick thrown to perfection by Iker Muniain.
Already in the second part the intensity was reduced equally in both teams. Although Valverde’s men continued to control the ball, the visiting team did not give up on their efforts and tried again with a shot from Luis Hernández that Unai Simón saved with a great save. The expulsion of Yuri for a double yellow ended up giving wings to a Cádiz that tried to turn to the rival field, but did not end up obtaining a prize.
Thus, those of the ‘Txingurri’ closed ranks and did not lose face to a party that they began to control despite the numerical inferiority. Sancet signed the sentence, and the third in his personal account, after taking advantage of a ball into space from Nico Williams and in one-on-one beating Ledesma without much trouble.
Spectacular match for ‘Lince’ to score his seventh goal and sign his second hat-trick as an Athletic Club footballer. From there, Sergio González’s men, emotionally dejected, began to lower their arms, although they still had one last chance that ended up crashing into the post.