FATHERS’ DAY FLOP

Sport » Soccer » Hercules CF

Malcolm Palmer / 2010-03-21 10:33:55

FOOT FIRST - Escudero nicks the ball off Del Olmo

Real Murcia 0 – Hercules 0 ... The decision to play the match late on Fathers’ Day evening seemed to have been a success when a noisy, partisan crowd of 15,155 attended the splendid Nueva Condomina stadium, including over a thousand from Alicante.

But, in the event, Hercules played with the nervy uncertainty of expectant fathers – and Murcia were no better. The visitors have now played four-and-a-half hours’ football without finding the net, and, although Esteban Vigo professed himself happy with the point gained, he must be concerned at his side’s inability to score.

Tote started on the bench, and Hercules were without the important services of Farinós, Peña, Abraham Paz and Delibasic, playing Portillo upfront, with Tiago Gomes just behind him. Pamarot took over from Abraham Paz at the back, alongside Rodriguez.

After seven minutes, hard-working Del Olmo managed to get in a shot at goal, which was a weak one – it was to be the last strike at goal that either side achieved in the game!
There was an edifying moment as the crowd behind the goal(!) protested a narrow offside decision – presumably the same intelligent beings who kept up the incessant repetition of ‘puta, puta, puta’ throughout the match.

Another entertaining event was the presentation of a yellow card to home striker Natalio for stupidly impeding Calatayud’s kick, but there was precious little to cheer about, and the game was to incisive attacking football what Paris Hilton is to nuclear physics.

A brief scramble ensued in the Hercules goalmouth, but then they made a fearful dog’s breakfast of a free kick from what ought to have been a promising position – and so the half ground on.

As half-time approached, the awful Portillo tried to emulate his Murcia counterpart and was booked for kicking the ball away at a home free kick.

Sendoa headed over the bar, and Hercules showed a little more spirit as the first 45 minutes came to a thankful end.

For the start of the second half, the teams were unchanged. So, unfortunately, was the script, and neither side looked remotely likely to score, even though a muddle in Murcia’s six-yard box resulted in a corner.

Iñaki Bea was very harshly treated when he was shown a red card for upending Tiago Gomes, then Pamarot had the ball in the net for the visitors, but had clearly fouled the keeper in the process. Kiko replaced Jorge Alonso, then Capdevila was also expelled, this time for a foul on Kiko.

Murcia were down to nine men, and it seemed that Hercules must score, but they were quite incapable of taking advantage, even when Tote was brought on for Rodri. Murcia played for time, making the most of every stoppage, and Hercules could make no inroads, badly missing the influence of Farinós, and the speed of Delibasic. Pamarot played well at the back, but then his partner Rodriguez became the third recipient of a red card as the match drew to a close, when he fouled Ochoa.

This prompted the thought that, had there been extra time, the whole lot might have been sent off. It would have been a blessing, and more skill was on show in the Third Division North of my youth – better fouls too! 0-0.

Photos by Mark Welton www.foto23.info