Guillem Molina and Óscar Sielva had to leave the field in the first half with discomfort, while Djetei was sent off in the 47th minute. These were three setbacks Huesca had to overcome in a match in which they looked very solid at the back but showed few ideas in attack, apart from the sending-off, due to a reactive approach.
Molina and Sielva went off in the first half after both suffering discomfort. Photo: S.D. Huesca
Rudé did not enjoy the dream debut, but he returns to Huesca with a point that almost feels like a victory. Although the 11 points collected so far do not bring the blue-and-garnet side much closer to their objective of reaching the promotion playoffs, the other contenders have yet to play this round.
THE MATCH
Rudé had to change the starting lineup because of Agus Juárez's injury, as well as those of Tresaco and Fornos. Salva Ruiz returned at left-back after serving his suspension, Gorostidi replaced Pascu in midfield, while Douglas on the wing and Herrera up front came into the starting XI in place of Luismi and Juárez. The rest of the players were the same as against Águilas.
Huesca suffered a major setback before two minutes had elapsed when Guillem Molina went down with clear signs of injury after a move that required no excessive effort, suggesting that the outlook was not positive for the leader of Huesca's defense. Djetei had to come on with barely any time to warm up to fill the gap in central defense, and Rudé faced his first setback almost immediately.
Gazzaniga played a key role by stopping several clear chances from Alcorcón. Photo: S.D. Huesca
The Aragonese side's plan was clear: defend the box, maintain a low pressing line and break quickly with long passes. Huesca created very little danger but looked fairly solid defensively, aside from a few errors when playing out that Alcorcón failed to capitalize on. After the half-hour mark came a second piece of bad news for Rudé, who was forced to use his second substitution window after Sielva's injury and Pascu's introduction.
Alcorcón dominated the match against a Huesca side that had clearly set out not to lose. Just before halftime, Gazzaniga had to make a superb save with his left hand to prevent an Alcorcón goal that would have dealt a severe blow to the Aragonese side's hopes. The teams went into the break at 0-0 after Huesca withstood Fran Justo's side's constant attacks, although they offered nothing going forward, managing just two shots in the opening 45 minutes.
TWO SENDINGS-OFF AND A BROKEN MATCH
Rudé made one change when play resumed at Santo Domingo, bringing on Diego Collado for Cristian Herrera in search of a player with greater pace in behind rather than a more fixed profile like the Canarian forward. Djetei again mistimed a challenge in open play and fouled Davo, resulting in the Cameroonian defender's dismissal and leaving Huesca a man down for the entire second half. After two forced changes because of possible injuries and a player being sent off—who had come on for Molina, one of those forced to leave with discomfort—Huesca could hardly have suffered more misfortune.
The coach decided not to make any changes because he had only two substitutions and one window remaining, while Alcorcón were throwing everything forward in search of a goal. Gazzaniga once again came to the rescue with an excellent two-handed save from a shot inside the six-yard box. Huesca were fighting desperately, and if they could take a point from the match, it would feel like three after everything that had happened on the Madrid pitch. Surprisingly, on Huesca's first attempt to move out of their own half, Mayorga clearly grabbed Collado and the referee awarded an obvious penalty. The Alcorcón center-back was also sent off, and it was incredible how quickly the match had changed.
Enrich came close to scoring in stoppage time. Photo: S.D. Huesca
Douglas took the penalty and made no mistake, sending the ball into the back of the net with ease. With 25 minutes still to play, Huesca had taken the lead in an honorable display of resistance by Rudé's side, who made the most of their only chance to glimpse the light in this match. But just when the Aragonese side were in their strongest spell, the game took another 180-degree turn when Aparicio equalized after a bizarre move that ended at the feet of the home side's most decisive player.
After a quiet spell in the match, Sergi Enrich came within inches of becoming the hero during the six minutes of added time, heading from the center of the box just wide of Bañuz's post. But the match at Santo Domingo ended 1-1, and for Huesca this point feels like gold. The most positive aspect was the attitude of a squad that had not shown the same fighting spirit with Jardiel on the bench.
TEAM SHEET
A.D. Alcorcón: Bañuz; Irurita, Mayorga, Lancho, Cuesta; Rivera (Domingo, min 66'), Vacas, Berlanga (Gonzalo Melero, min 66'), Omar (Domenico, min 83'); Davo (Rober Ibáñez, min 83') and Aparicio (Sabina, min 88').
S.D. Huesca: Gazzaniga; Víctor García, Molina (Djetei, min 5'), Kembo, Salva Ruiz; Sielva (Pascu, min 32'), Jimmy (Mario García, min 77'), Gorostidi; Diego Gómez, Douglas (Sergi Enrich, min 77') and Cristian Herrera (Collado, min 46).
Referee: Juan Roca. Booked Djetei (min 9'), Cuesta (min 21'), Gorostidi (min 27'), Mayorga (53') and Vacas (min 83'). Sent off Djetei (47') and Mayorga (61').
Goals: 0-1, Douglas, penalty (min 65'); 1-1, Aparicio (min 72').
Match details: Matchday 8 of Primera RFEF, played at Santo Domingo (Madrid).
