The attacking prowess of Hércules takes down Atlético de Madrid (4-1)
Reyes scores a consolation goal in the 88th minute
Atlético de Madrid took a big step backward in their aspirations to keep fighting for Champions spots after getting blown out by Hércules in Alicante, 4-1. Luck in finishing off their attacks, with four goals on their first four shots on goals, allowed the home team to build a huge lead on the scoreboard against an Atlético side that tried, but wasn’t as fortunate when it came time to finish.
Hércules and Atlético were facing each other for the first time in many years. The atmosphere in the stands and the pleasant evening Mediterranean temperatures made it seem like a good show was on the horizon. The visiting team was even backed by more than 1,500 fans who had attended the stadium to cheer on and support their idols in search of the victory.
The home squad went into the match with the favourable stat of having won their last three home games and being the only team to have beaten Barcelona and given Real Madrid serious problems in their visit to Alicante. Facing them were Atlético, who had only won three matches away from the Vicente Calderón, but who wanted to stay in the battle against Villarreal and Valencia for a spot in next season’s Champions League.
The match began in exciting fashion, with Hércules pushing forward in search of a goal and with Atlético de Madrid well-positioned on the pitch. Raúl García and Reyes started on the wings and Assunçao and Mario Suárez were in the central midfield. The home fans were particularly sensitive after recent officiating had hurt them and put pressure on the referee from the opening whistle.
That lasted until the 10th minute when Tote carried into the area and the ball deflected off of Domínguez. The home supporters clamoured for a penalty on a possible handball, but the striker wasn’t worried about that. He continued to battle for the ball inside the area, got it back, and tallied the first goal of the match with a strong shot that somehow skipped through a small space between De Gea and the post.
The goal wasn’t what the ‘rojiblancos’ had planned on in their attempt to continue climbing up the table. They needed to pick themselves back up and try to turn the score around in order to reach the sought-after 30 points that Quique Sánchez Flores had commented on during his pre-game press conference. Nevertheless, Hércules’ second goal was closer to coming than Atlético’s first. Atlético slowly began approaching Calatayud’s area, and in minute 18 Filipe Luis forced the home keeper into a nice save. On the next play, Reyes had a nice chance on a free kick, but his shot was off-target.
In the 23rd minute, an apparently toothless counter-attack was cut out by Filipe Luis. The Brazilian’s square pass to Domínguez was intercepted by Valdez, who didn’t hesitate and unleashed a fierce shot from outside the area that gave the home side a 2-0 lead. It was harsh punishment for an Atlético squad that had begun very seriously, but who had nonetheless fallen into a big hole due to those two mistakes.
On this evening luck was siding with Hércules, as on their only two shots they had notched two goals, and when one has luck on their side everything goes their way. In the 31st minute Peña crossed to the penalty spot and Thormet beat Godín to the open space to score the third of the evening. Celebrations took over the stands at Rico Pérez Stadium, as the fans couldn’t believe what they were watching.
Shortly afterwards, in minute 32, Atlético de Madrid had a chance to pull one back on a shot from Raúl García, but the shot went just high. Luck for the home team was misfortune for the ‘rojiblancos’, who hadn’t finished off any of their chances despite having the same number of shots as Hércules. There was still time to see the fourth of the first half when Trezeguet beat De Gea with a hard shot from outside the area. Hércules’ scoring streak was quite incredible, and not even the home supporters could believe their clinical finishing.
The second half began, logically, with Hércules sitting back in their half. They had no need to risk anything as their lead on the scoresheet allowed them to simply manage that advantage. Meanwhile, Atlético came out enraged and with a desire to show their class. Kun, highly motivated, was the first to try his luck on two attacks, although Fran Mérida was the first to put a shot between the three posts.
Things were looking much better, although the deficit was frightening. The best thing was to not pay attention to that and to try and cut into the lead little-by-little. Kun Agüero could have tallied the first of the evening in the 52nd minute on a free kick, but the ball struck off one of Calatayud’s posts. Minutes later Reyes forced the home keeper into a fine diving save. It was clear that Hércules were enjoying all of the luck and that the bad luck was going to Quique Sánchez Flores’s squad.
But after those opening minutes of command for the visitors, things got a bit crazy. The ball went from one side of the pitch to the other without control, and in a matter of seconds went from the hands of Calatayud to those of De Gea. The minutes ticked down and nothing changed on the scoreboard. Koke and Forlán came on and didn’t change a thing, although Reyes was able to score a consolation goal at the very end. Even so, the team suffered a painful loss.
After this defeat, the ‘rojiblancos’ will try to pick themselves up on Thursday in the first leg match of the Copa del Rey quarterfinals against Real Madrid and obtain a good result for the return leg at the Calderón.
HÉRCULES, 4 (Tote, Valdez, Thomert and Trezeguet); ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 1 (Reyes)
Hércules: Calatayud; Cortés, Abraham Paz, Pamarot, Peña; Tote (Cristian, 63’), Fliztler, Aguilar, Thomert (Sendoa, 51’); Valdez (Rufete, 75’) and Trezeguet.
Atlético de Madrid: De Gea; Ujfalusi, Godín, Domínguez, Filipe Luis; Raúl García (Koke, 58’), Mario Suárez (Fran Mérida, 46), Assunçao, Reyes; Agüero (Forlán, 76’) and Diego Costa.
Referee: Paradas Romero. For Hércules booked Peña (52’); there were no cards shown to Atlético.
Incidents: Estadio Rico Pérez. Match corresponding to week 18 of La Liga. A minute of silence was held in memory of María Ros Mula, mother of the President of Hércules, Valentín Botella. Around 1,500 Atlético supporters in the stands.
GOALS:
1-0 (11). Tote takes advantage of a miscommunication between Domínguez and Filipe, picks up a ball inside the area and scores the match opener.
2-0 (23). Valdez scores on a strong shot from outsider the area.
3-0 (31’). Peña crosses to the penalty spot and Thomert heads into the back of the net.
4-0 (45’). Trezeget scores from outsider the area off a pass from Tote.
4-1 (89’). Reyes scores from inside the area.
Hércules and Atlético were facing each other for the first time in many years. The atmosphere in the stands and the pleasant evening Mediterranean temperatures made it seem like a good show was on the horizon. The visiting team was even backed by more than 1,500 fans who had attended the stadium to cheer on and support their idols in search of the victory.
The home squad went into the match with the favourable stat of having won their last three home games and being the only team to have beaten Barcelona and given Real Madrid serious problems in their visit to Alicante. Facing them were Atlético, who had only won three matches away from the Vicente Calderón, but who wanted to stay in the battle against Villarreal and Valencia for a spot in next season’s Champions League.
The match began in exciting fashion, with Hércules pushing forward in search of a goal and with Atlético de Madrid well-positioned on the pitch. Raúl García and Reyes started on the wings and Assunçao and Mario Suárez were in the central midfield. The home fans were particularly sensitive after recent officiating had hurt them and put pressure on the referee from the opening whistle.
That lasted until the 10th minute when Tote carried into the area and the ball deflected off of Domínguez. The home supporters clamoured for a penalty on a possible handball, but the striker wasn’t worried about that. He continued to battle for the ball inside the area, got it back, and tallied the first goal of the match with a strong shot that somehow skipped through a small space between De Gea and the post.
The goal wasn’t what the ‘rojiblancos’ had planned on in their attempt to continue climbing up the table. They needed to pick themselves back up and try to turn the score around in order to reach the sought-after 30 points that Quique Sánchez Flores had commented on during his pre-game press conference. Nevertheless, Hércules’ second goal was closer to coming than Atlético’s first. Atlético slowly began approaching Calatayud’s area, and in minute 18 Filipe Luis forced the home keeper into a nice save. On the next play, Reyes had a nice chance on a free kick, but his shot was off-target.
In the 23rd minute, an apparently toothless counter-attack was cut out by Filipe Luis. The Brazilian’s square pass to Domínguez was intercepted by Valdez, who didn’t hesitate and unleashed a fierce shot from outside the area that gave the home side a 2-0 lead. It was harsh punishment for an Atlético squad that had begun very seriously, but who had nonetheless fallen into a big hole due to those two mistakes.
On this evening luck was siding with Hércules, as on their only two shots they had notched two goals, and when one has luck on their side everything goes their way. In the 31st minute Peña crossed to the penalty spot and Thormet beat Godín to the open space to score the third of the evening. Celebrations took over the stands at Rico Pérez Stadium, as the fans couldn’t believe what they were watching.
Shortly afterwards, in minute 32, Atlético de Madrid had a chance to pull one back on a shot from Raúl García, but the shot went just high. Luck for the home team was misfortune for the ‘rojiblancos’, who hadn’t finished off any of their chances despite having the same number of shots as Hércules. There was still time to see the fourth of the first half when Trezeguet beat De Gea with a hard shot from outside the area. Hércules’ scoring streak was quite incredible, and not even the home supporters could believe their clinical finishing.
The second half began, logically, with Hércules sitting back in their half. They had no need to risk anything as their lead on the scoresheet allowed them to simply manage that advantage. Meanwhile, Atlético came out enraged and with a desire to show their class. Kun, highly motivated, was the first to try his luck on two attacks, although Fran Mérida was the first to put a shot between the three posts.
Things were looking much better, although the deficit was frightening. The best thing was to not pay attention to that and to try and cut into the lead little-by-little. Kun Agüero could have tallied the first of the evening in the 52nd minute on a free kick, but the ball struck off one of Calatayud’s posts. Minutes later Reyes forced the home keeper into a fine diving save. It was clear that Hércules were enjoying all of the luck and that the bad luck was going to Quique Sánchez Flores’s squad.
But after those opening minutes of command for the visitors, things got a bit crazy. The ball went from one side of the pitch to the other without control, and in a matter of seconds went from the hands of Calatayud to those of De Gea. The minutes ticked down and nothing changed on the scoreboard. Koke and Forlán came on and didn’t change a thing, although Reyes was able to score a consolation goal at the very end. Even so, the team suffered a painful loss.
After this defeat, the ‘rojiblancos’ will try to pick themselves up on Thursday in the first leg match of the Copa del Rey quarterfinals against Real Madrid and obtain a good result for the return leg at the Calderón.
HÉRCULES, 4 (Tote, Valdez, Thomert and Trezeguet); ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 1 (Reyes)
Hércules: Calatayud; Cortés, Abraham Paz, Pamarot, Peña; Tote (Cristian, 63’), Fliztler, Aguilar, Thomert (Sendoa, 51’); Valdez (Rufete, 75’) and Trezeguet.
Atlético de Madrid: De Gea; Ujfalusi, Godín, Domínguez, Filipe Luis; Raúl García (Koke, 58’), Mario Suárez (Fran Mérida, 46), Assunçao, Reyes; Agüero (Forlán, 76’) and Diego Costa.
Referee: Paradas Romero. For Hércules booked Peña (52’); there were no cards shown to Atlético.
Incidents: Estadio Rico Pérez. Match corresponding to week 18 of La Liga. A minute of silence was held in memory of María Ros Mula, mother of the President of Hércules, Valentín Botella. Around 1,500 Atlético supporters in the stands.
GOALS:
1-0 (11). Tote takes advantage of a miscommunication between Domínguez and Filipe, picks up a ball inside the area and scores the match opener.
2-0 (23). Valdez scores on a strong shot from outsider the area.
3-0 (31’). Peña crosses to the penalty spot and Thomert heads into the back of the net.
4-0 (45’). Trezeget scores from outsider the area off a pass from Tote.
4-1 (89’). Reyes scores from inside the area.
