Everyones second favourite team go back to the top thanks to two own goals from the same player!
8th November 2003 -- Deportivo are Liga leaders again, for the moment, after beating Real Sociedad 2-1 in Riazor. This win means Deportivo will have to wait until Sunday’s results of Valencia and Real Madrid to see whether this status will be kept until the next match at Betis Sevilla. But at least the bad serie of matches was finally broken by the men of Irureta.
Irureta had three full days to think back to the humiliating defeat (8-3) at Monaco and to consider his team to beat the Basques of Real Sociedad. In the end he made four changes compared to the team which suffered the biggest Champions League defeat ever. The injuries of Romero, Fran and Munitis obliged the coach to start with Capdevilla and Luque on the left flank. The other two changes were the return of Víctor Sánchez, after recovering from his injury, instead of Lionel Scaloni and Héctor taking the place of Manuel Pablo. The Sevilian rightback hadn’t played in the Liga since Deportivo's defeat against Osasuna.
FIRST HALF
In the first half Real Sociedad had the better play and Deportivo didn’t create sufficient danger to worry Dutch goalkeeper Sander Westerveld. Although Depor were pushing and dominating a bit more it was Real Sociedad who were better positioned on the field. But neither the Basques had sufficient means, or desire, to create many good moves. Real Sociedad will have remembered their last three away defeats in the Liga and last night didn’t want to rush things in Riazor.
Still the visitors went in front after 28 minutes when Turkish attacker Nihat was given space to turn in the final third of the pitch. He punished Depor's slack marking and fired a low long range effort past Molina: 0-1. The crowd fell silent and Deportivo were visibly affected by this goal. Before the break the Basques even had more chances to increase their lead by two headers of Darko Kovacevic and Xabi Alonso’s volley from outside the box. The best indication of Deportivo not creating much danger is that the best chance was for midfielder Mauro Silva, who has scored one Liga goal in eleven seasons at Deportivo.
SECOND HALF
In the second half the Galicians showed more fighting spirit, especially at the left side through Luque. But Irureta still wasn’t pleased with the attacking game as Valerón wasn’t in the match and never connected with Diego Tristán. The most crucial moment of the match came after ten minutes in the second half when Irureta took off both Valerón and Tristán and replaced them by Walter Pandiani and the enigmatic Brazilian Djalminha. The midfielder had been warming up himself, and the crowd, since the first half and both players would prove to be instrumental in turning the match around.
Djalminha made an inspirational return.
Djalminha, making his first Liga appearance in 18 months, heard every contribution from his part being cheered wildly by the Riazor crowd and he provided some much-needed spark. And in the last part of the match the local side also had some more luck. After Pandiani had two opportunities who should have served as a warning, the equaliser came after 72 minutes when Real Sociedad defender Jauregi turned Joan Capdevila's angled cross past a stranded Sander Westerveld. But Deportivo didn’t settle just for a draw.
As Depor pushed for a winner, Real coach Denoueix took off striking partners Darko Kovacevic and Nihat in an attempt to protect the draw. This indication might have been the decisive boost for Deportivo as the team started an all out attack in search for the winner. With three minutes remaining Djalminha's swerving corner was met with a slight touch from Pandiani before cannoning in off the unfortunate Jauregi, scorer of two own goals last night. Although the team didn’t impress last night it was a reward for Deportivo’s fighting spirit.
AFTER THE MATCH
Deportivo hadn’t won in two Liga matches and also didn’t win this week in Monaco, making it three matches in a row without winning. Furthermore, Deportivo have been 262 minutes without a Liga goal between Tristán scoring the winner against Valencia and Jauregui’s own goal after 72 minutes. As both of Deportivo’s goals will be counted as own goals by the Real Sociedad defender, the Deportivo players still haven’t scored a Liga goal themselves for 280 minutes.
Positive news is that, despite the setbacks of the past weeks, Deportivo continue their excellent start to the season with eight wins out of eleven matches. Tonight Valencia will play Racing de Santander in Mestalla, keeping in mind that the visitors surprised Celta de Vigo in their own stadium last week (0-1). For their part, Real Madrid will travel to Sevilla with defensive problems as Roberto Carlos is injured and Michel Salgado suspended. Sevilla haven’t had a home win against Real Madrid since 1992, but the fire power of Reyes and Dario Silva could make it possible.
MATCH STATISTICS
Deportivo: Molina - Héctor, Jorge Andrade, Naybet, Capdevila - Víctor Sánchez (80 Lionel Scaloni), Sergio, Mauro Silva, Valerón (55 Djalminha), Luque - Tristán (55 Pandiani)
Real Sociedad: Westerveld - Potillon, Jauregui, Schürrer, Aranzabal - Karpin, Xavi Alonso, Alkiza (66 Aramburu), Gabilondo - Nihat (84 Boris), Kovacevic (79 De Paula)
Goal: 29’ Nihat 0-1 72' Jauregui (og) 1-1 88’Jauregui (og) 2-1
Referee: Mejuto González. He showed yellow cards to Mauro Silva and Molina of Deportivo and to Gabilondo, Potillon and Xabi Alonso of Real Sociedad
Attendance: 25,000 (Riazor)
8th November 2003 -- Deportivo are Liga leaders again, for the moment, after beating Real Sociedad 2-1 in Riazor. This win means Deportivo will have to wait until Sunday’s results of Valencia and Real Madrid to see whether this status will be kept until the next match at Betis Sevilla. But at least the bad serie of matches was finally broken by the men of Irureta.
Irureta had three full days to think back to the humiliating defeat (8-3) at Monaco and to consider his team to beat the Basques of Real Sociedad. In the end he made four changes compared to the team which suffered the biggest Champions League defeat ever. The injuries of Romero, Fran and Munitis obliged the coach to start with Capdevilla and Luque on the left flank. The other two changes were the return of Víctor Sánchez, after recovering from his injury, instead of Lionel Scaloni and Héctor taking the place of Manuel Pablo. The Sevilian rightback hadn’t played in the Liga since Deportivo's defeat against Osasuna.
FIRST HALF
In the first half Real Sociedad had the better play and Deportivo didn’t create sufficient danger to worry Dutch goalkeeper Sander Westerveld. Although Depor were pushing and dominating a bit more it was Real Sociedad who were better positioned on the field. But neither the Basques had sufficient means, or desire, to create many good moves. Real Sociedad will have remembered their last three away defeats in the Liga and last night didn’t want to rush things in Riazor.
Still the visitors went in front after 28 minutes when Turkish attacker Nihat was given space to turn in the final third of the pitch. He punished Depor's slack marking and fired a low long range effort past Molina: 0-1. The crowd fell silent and Deportivo were visibly affected by this goal. Before the break the Basques even had more chances to increase their lead by two headers of Darko Kovacevic and Xabi Alonso’s volley from outside the box. The best indication of Deportivo not creating much danger is that the best chance was for midfielder Mauro Silva, who has scored one Liga goal in eleven seasons at Deportivo.
SECOND HALF
In the second half the Galicians showed more fighting spirit, especially at the left side through Luque. But Irureta still wasn’t pleased with the attacking game as Valerón wasn’t in the match and never connected with Diego Tristán. The most crucial moment of the match came after ten minutes in the second half when Irureta took off both Valerón and Tristán and replaced them by Walter Pandiani and the enigmatic Brazilian Djalminha. The midfielder had been warming up himself, and the crowd, since the first half and both players would prove to be instrumental in turning the match around.
Djalminha made an inspirational return.
Djalminha, making his first Liga appearance in 18 months, heard every contribution from his part being cheered wildly by the Riazor crowd and he provided some much-needed spark. And in the last part of the match the local side also had some more luck. After Pandiani had two opportunities who should have served as a warning, the equaliser came after 72 minutes when Real Sociedad defender Jauregi turned Joan Capdevila's angled cross past a stranded Sander Westerveld. But Deportivo didn’t settle just for a draw.
As Depor pushed for a winner, Real coach Denoueix took off striking partners Darko Kovacevic and Nihat in an attempt to protect the draw. This indication might have been the decisive boost for Deportivo as the team started an all out attack in search for the winner. With three minutes remaining Djalminha's swerving corner was met with a slight touch from Pandiani before cannoning in off the unfortunate Jauregi, scorer of two own goals last night. Although the team didn’t impress last night it was a reward for Deportivo’s fighting spirit.
AFTER THE MATCH
Deportivo hadn’t won in two Liga matches and also didn’t win this week in Monaco, making it three matches in a row without winning. Furthermore, Deportivo have been 262 minutes without a Liga goal between Tristán scoring the winner against Valencia and Jauregui’s own goal after 72 minutes. As both of Deportivo’s goals will be counted as own goals by the Real Sociedad defender, the Deportivo players still haven’t scored a Liga goal themselves for 280 minutes.
Positive news is that, despite the setbacks of the past weeks, Deportivo continue their excellent start to the season with eight wins out of eleven matches. Tonight Valencia will play Racing de Santander in Mestalla, keeping in mind that the visitors surprised Celta de Vigo in their own stadium last week (0-1). For their part, Real Madrid will travel to Sevilla with defensive problems as Roberto Carlos is injured and Michel Salgado suspended. Sevilla haven’t had a home win against Real Madrid since 1992, but the fire power of Reyes and Dario Silva could make it possible.
MATCH STATISTICS
Deportivo: Molina - Héctor, Jorge Andrade, Naybet, Capdevila - Víctor Sánchez (80 Lionel Scaloni), Sergio, Mauro Silva, Valerón (55 Djalminha), Luque - Tristán (55 Pandiani)
Real Sociedad: Westerveld - Potillon, Jauregui, Schürrer, Aranzabal - Karpin, Xavi Alonso, Alkiza (66 Aramburu), Gabilondo - Nihat (84 Boris), Kovacevic (79 De Paula)
Goal: 29’ Nihat 0-1 72' Jauregui (og) 1-1 88’Jauregui (og) 2-1
Referee: Mejuto González. He showed yellow cards to Mauro Silva and Molina of Deportivo and to Gabilondo, Potillon and Xabi Alonso of Real Sociedad
Attendance: 25,000 (Riazor)
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