A fine goal from Agüero gives a solid Atlético de Madrid the win in Zaragoza (0-1)
Excellent work from the whole squad, which controls the match at all times
Agüero broke his scoring jinx against Zaragoza with the match-winner, putting the icing on the cake of a great match from the entire Atlético de Madrid squad. Solid in defence, Quique Sánchez Flores’ team could have won with a bigger result and this almost cost them dearly as Zaragoza twice struck the crossbar in the waning minutes. In the end, Atlético grabbed the victory in a match in which they had to endure to win.
Atlético de Madrid and Zaragoza both went into the match in urgent situations. The ‘rojiblancos’, because they’d given up too much ground in their battle to reach European spots (one win out of their last six), while the home team were coming out of the relegation zone thanks to the solidity and style brought by Javier Aguirre. Since the Mexican took over as manager, Zaragoza had gotten used to winning and, with the exception of the loss to Hércules last week, had earned 10 points from their previous four fixtures.
Furthermore, this clash featured an added incentive because there were plenty of former ‘rojiblanco’ players in the Zaragoza ranks. Leo Franco, who left his mark at Atlético de Madrid, defends the goal for the side from Aragon, Sinama-Pongolle has scored some important goals recently, while two players formed in the Atleti academy are also having solid seasons. Gabi is the captain of Aguirre’s squad, while Braulio has also done his bit with goals to help the team get out of the ‘hot’ zone of the table.
The big novelty in the ‘rojiblanco’ starting line-up was the presence of Koke, a home-grown player who had been getting minutes in recent games and who was given this opportunity to start by Quique Sánchez Flores. The lad played very well, worked hard, helped out his teammates and fit in perfectly, as if he’d been starting for a long time.
Quique Sánchez Flores’ squad came out decisively in search of the win. The ball was under the visitors’ control from the moment that Delgado Ferreiro blew the opening whistle. The ball control and defensive anticipation of the side from Madrid gave them the first scoring chances of the match. Reyes struck a right-footed shot from the top of the area in the opening minute which glanced off a defender and almost surprised Leo Franco. The ensuing corner kick taken by the winger was headed by Raúl García just over the crossbar. Two minutes later a pass from Reyes intended for Kun was clipped away by a home defender near the goal-line.
The control of the ‘rojiblancos’ was so clear that Zaragoza were unable to create dangerous chances. The ‘maños’ suffered as they chased the ball around the pitch and when they had it in their control, it didn’t last long. Thus, Atlético de Madrid continued to have their way and the cleverest player in the class, Agüero, took in a pass at the centre circle in the 12th minute, marched all the way in on Leo Franco and forced his former teammate to make an amazing one-handed save when a goal seemed a sure thing. A bit afterwards, in minute 20, Reyes fell inside the area on a play that could have been a penalty, but Delgado Ferreiro kept his whistle in his pocket.
Zaragoza seemed in a daze. The visitors just needed one big blow to knock them to the canvas, in boxing terms, but they couldn’t land it. After a corner kick, a home defender cleared a Tiago header off the line in minute 25 and later, in the 38th minute, a one-two between Forlán and Agüero left Kun dribbling by Leo Franco, but his shot was deflected at the last minute for a corner.
Javier Aguirre’s team was only able to try its luck from distance in the first half through Gabi, but his shot was off-target. Former ‘rojiblancos Braulio and Sinama-Pongolle were all tied up by the visiting defence, which was firm and airtight, so that De Gea hardly had any work in the first half.
The Mexican manager tried to introduce more bite into his attack after the break and took off Sinama-Pongolle in favour of Bertolo. And the fact is that the home side came to life a bit and had their first chance just one minute after the re-start with a wicked shot that was well responded to by De Gea. The reply didn’t take long to come as one minute later an excellent play from Kun down the left ended with Reyes shooting centimetres wide of the post.
The fateful minute for Zaragoza came in the 63rd minute. They had a great chance to score a goal in a scramble in front of the goal, but the ‘rojiblancos’ were finally able to clear. On the ensuing counter-attack, Agüero used his speed to blow by Ponzio on the right and ripped a fierce, diagonal shot past Leo Franco to score his first goal ever against Zaragoza and break his drought, which dated back to 6 January, when he scored against Espanyol in the Copa del Rey.
The only thing the ‘rojiblancos’ needed to do was close out the match, but there lack of finishing almost cost them as they nearly suffered a heart attack at the end, with shots from Uche and Bertolo that rattled the crossbar. In the end, Atlético de Madrid won their second game of 2011 and did so with excellent work from the entire squad, which was supportive and generous in its effort, and a great goal from Agüero, who left the match due to a blow to his quad, which allowed the visitors to take the three points away from their visit to Zaragoza.
ZARAGOZA, 0; ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 1 (Agüero)
Zaragoza: Leo Franco; Diogo, Contini, Jarosik, Obradovic; Ponzio, Gabi, Boutahar (Uche, 71’), N’Daw (Jorge López, 67’); Sinama Pongolle (Bertolo, 46’) and Braulio.
Atlético de Madrid: De Gea; Ujfalusi, Perea, Domínguez, Antonio López; Reyes, Raúl García, Tiago, Koke (Elías, 82’); Forlán (Assunçao, 90’) and Agüero (Diego Costa, 85’).
Referee: Delgado Ferreiro. For the home team showed yellow cards to Diogo (24’), Obradovic (76’), Ponzio (82’) and Contini (90’); for Atlético booked Tiago (43’), Domínguez (63’) and Assunçao (92’).
Incidents: Estadio La Romareda. Matchday 24 of La Liga. Around 23,000 spectators.
GOAL:
0-1. 64’. Agüero uses his pace to burst by Ponzio on the right and beats Leo Franco to the far post.
Atlético de Madrid and Zaragoza both went into the match in urgent situations. The ‘rojiblancos’, because they’d given up too much ground in their battle to reach European spots (one win out of their last six), while the home team were coming out of the relegation zone thanks to the solidity and style brought by Javier Aguirre. Since the Mexican took over as manager, Zaragoza had gotten used to winning and, with the exception of the loss to Hércules last week, had earned 10 points from their previous four fixtures.
Furthermore, this clash featured an added incentive because there were plenty of former ‘rojiblanco’ players in the Zaragoza ranks. Leo Franco, who left his mark at Atlético de Madrid, defends the goal for the side from Aragon, Sinama-Pongolle has scored some important goals recently, while two players formed in the Atleti academy are also having solid seasons. Gabi is the captain of Aguirre’s squad, while Braulio has also done his bit with goals to help the team get out of the ‘hot’ zone of the table.
The big novelty in the ‘rojiblanco’ starting line-up was the presence of Koke, a home-grown player who had been getting minutes in recent games and who was given this opportunity to start by Quique Sánchez Flores. The lad played very well, worked hard, helped out his teammates and fit in perfectly, as if he’d been starting for a long time.
Quique Sánchez Flores’ squad came out decisively in search of the win. The ball was under the visitors’ control from the moment that Delgado Ferreiro blew the opening whistle. The ball control and defensive anticipation of the side from Madrid gave them the first scoring chances of the match. Reyes struck a right-footed shot from the top of the area in the opening minute which glanced off a defender and almost surprised Leo Franco. The ensuing corner kick taken by the winger was headed by Raúl García just over the crossbar. Two minutes later a pass from Reyes intended for Kun was clipped away by a home defender near the goal-line.
The control of the ‘rojiblancos’ was so clear that Zaragoza were unable to create dangerous chances. The ‘maños’ suffered as they chased the ball around the pitch and when they had it in their control, it didn’t last long. Thus, Atlético de Madrid continued to have their way and the cleverest player in the class, Agüero, took in a pass at the centre circle in the 12th minute, marched all the way in on Leo Franco and forced his former teammate to make an amazing one-handed save when a goal seemed a sure thing. A bit afterwards, in minute 20, Reyes fell inside the area on a play that could have been a penalty, but Delgado Ferreiro kept his whistle in his pocket.
Zaragoza seemed in a daze. The visitors just needed one big blow to knock them to the canvas, in boxing terms, but they couldn’t land it. After a corner kick, a home defender cleared a Tiago header off the line in minute 25 and later, in the 38th minute, a one-two between Forlán and Agüero left Kun dribbling by Leo Franco, but his shot was deflected at the last minute for a corner.
Javier Aguirre’s team was only able to try its luck from distance in the first half through Gabi, but his shot was off-target. Former ‘rojiblancos Braulio and Sinama-Pongolle were all tied up by the visiting defence, which was firm and airtight, so that De Gea hardly had any work in the first half.
The Mexican manager tried to introduce more bite into his attack after the break and took off Sinama-Pongolle in favour of Bertolo. And the fact is that the home side came to life a bit and had their first chance just one minute after the re-start with a wicked shot that was well responded to by De Gea. The reply didn’t take long to come as one minute later an excellent play from Kun down the left ended with Reyes shooting centimetres wide of the post.
The fateful minute for Zaragoza came in the 63rd minute. They had a great chance to score a goal in a scramble in front of the goal, but the ‘rojiblancos’ were finally able to clear. On the ensuing counter-attack, Agüero used his speed to blow by Ponzio on the right and ripped a fierce, diagonal shot past Leo Franco to score his first goal ever against Zaragoza and break his drought, which dated back to 6 January, when he scored against Espanyol in the Copa del Rey.
The only thing the ‘rojiblancos’ needed to do was close out the match, but there lack of finishing almost cost them as they nearly suffered a heart attack at the end, with shots from Uche and Bertolo that rattled the crossbar. In the end, Atlético de Madrid won their second game of 2011 and did so with excellent work from the entire squad, which was supportive and generous in its effort, and a great goal from Agüero, who left the match due to a blow to his quad, which allowed the visitors to take the three points away from their visit to Zaragoza.
ZARAGOZA, 0; ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 1 (Agüero)
Zaragoza: Leo Franco; Diogo, Contini, Jarosik, Obradovic; Ponzio, Gabi, Boutahar (Uche, 71’), N’Daw (Jorge López, 67’); Sinama Pongolle (Bertolo, 46’) and Braulio.
Atlético de Madrid: De Gea; Ujfalusi, Perea, Domínguez, Antonio López; Reyes, Raúl García, Tiago, Koke (Elías, 82’); Forlán (Assunçao, 90’) and Agüero (Diego Costa, 85’).
Referee: Delgado Ferreiro. For the home team showed yellow cards to Diogo (24’), Obradovic (76’), Ponzio (82’) and Contini (90’); for Atlético booked Tiago (43’), Domínguez (63’) and Assunçao (92’).
Incidents: Estadio La Romareda. Matchday 24 of La Liga. Around 23,000 spectators.
GOAL:
0-1. 64’. Agüero uses his pace to burst by Ponzio on the right and beats Leo Franco to the far post.