A solitary goal on the stroke of half-time was enough to knock down Mirandés
It was a game with several chances and five balls crashed into the post by both sides
A goal by Xeber Alkain on the second day of the SmartBank League put Deportivo Alavés in the leadafter beating Mirandés by the minimum (1-0), and adding their second consecutive victory in a game with several occasions and five balls crashing into the post by both sides.
Luis Rioja connected with the Basque winger just before the break to score the only goal in a duel that Mirandés dominated during the first half hour of the duel, although it was Luis García Plaza’s team that took control of the clash with the passing of the minutes.
It was the premiere of the babazorros in their fiefdom after the descent of categorybut the public responded with more than 11,000 faithful in the stands, who broke their hands to welcome the former albiazul player for nine seasons, Manu García, the protagonist in the lead up to the match.
The Mirandés came out with a lot of personality to the field of play in Vitoria and sought to impose their rhythm during the first half hour that had a lot of rhythm on the part of Joseba Etxeberria’s men.
In fact, the first approaches were for visitors with several balls hanging from the sides. Alavés was somewhat surprised by the red team, which caused constant turnovers in the locals who managed to break free with a shot by Luis Rioja in the 9th minute of a match that was going to be bumpy and jerky for the Basques.
the debutante Nikola Maras was a protagonist in both areas. The Balkan was confident in defense and looked for a goal as a reference from set pieces but he did not have the necessary aim to overtake his team, although it was Mirandés who managed to impose his pace.
Juanlu Sánchez had the clearest chance in minute 27, but failed to control successfully to make the first of the night. Subsequently, Raúl García de Haro crashed the ball into the woodwork and the game took a turn from then on. Alavés reacted and found the reward with a great definition by Xeber Alkain that beat goalkeeper Ramón Juan after connecting a good pass from Luis Rioja from below.
The goalkeeper, who until now had been very sure in his interventions and minutes avoided Salva Sevilla’s first goal from a direct free kick, could not stop the shot of the young babazorro who premiered with the Vitorian elastic and left his team ahead after a first half with greater visiting dominance and with Raúl García de Haro and Nico Serrano as stilettos for the Mirandesistas, who generated a lot of danger in the environment of the local goalkeeper Antonio Sivera.
After the break, the albiazules showed much more patience with the ball and were able to increase their lead in the early stages. After several rebounds in the red area, Jon Guridi headed the ball to Nahuel Tenaglia and the Argentine crashed the ball into the post in a move that could have marked the entire second half from the 54th minute.
If the first ovation of the night was taken by the exalbiazul Manuel Garcia In an emotional acknowledgment, the man from Vitoria once again gathered the warmth of his former audience when he made his debut with Mirandés in the 65th minute of the match.
But the locals continued to be better planted and were more confident, only a few doubts when the ball came out and a few sparks from the Joseba Etxeberria slightly shake the foundations that the Alavesistas were putting with the passing of the minutes.
Miguel De la Fuente found the post in the 70th minute after a through pass from Salva Sevilla that grew along with his team. Despite everything, the difference did not grow and Mirandés continued to believe in their chances. So, heThe people of Burgos try Resron harder on both sidesalthough Jofre had the best chance with a personal ride through the central zone and found himself with the post again.
The same thing happened to Jon Guridi in the subsequent action that ran into the woodwork and could not add the second on the Alavés scoreboard either. Mirandés did the rest in the final stretch, but Alavés kept the three points.