SD Huesca had to weather a storm at Ciutat de Valencia too early. 1-0 and a man short before the half-hour mark did not seem to be the dream scenario for Hidalgo’s men against Levante UD. However, the Azulgranas showed their pride and almost touched the miracle with their fingertips. ‘No reblar’ – or never give up – was true again, yet the hopes of a comeback ended just in hopes and did not come true.
A goal in the first minute is always a hard pill to swallow, but the Oscenses fought hard to bounce back by means of Javi Martinez, who powered a shot from the edge of the area, making the most of a clearance, but his effort went wide. But if coming from behind is rough, it is even tougher to have one man sent off before the half-hour break. In this case, while Kento was driving the ball, only the referee considered that he deserved a red card. Then Gerard had some issues with hamstrings, broadening the list of injured players in Hidalgo’s squad, considering Juanjo Nieto, Oscar Sielva, Rafa Tresaco, Ruben Pulido, Abou Kante and Javi Mier. Adding insult to injury, Levante doubled the advantage with a shot from distance by Carlos Alvarez, so the Altoaragoneses were relieved to head into the tunnel at half-time.
Kortajarena and Hugo Vallejo came out for the Azulgranas’ second half intent of getting back into the match and taking advantage of a quiet opening by Levante. At the opening stages of the second 45, Kortajarena went down under a challenge inside the area and the referee pointed to the spot. Obeng converted it, making it 2-1 to cut the deficit and give some hope to the Oscenses. Kortajarena was very close to level matters after a ball from Balboa, who swung in a cross at the by-line, but the shot went wide. And although the Azulgranas kept pushing until the end, with the travelling crowd well behind them, it was all eventually in vain.
