ORIHUELA SERVE UP SHOCK FOR REDS

Sport » Soccer » UD Horadada

Kevin Reardon / 2010-02-07 10:25:56

Nacho worked tirelessly but had little to show for his efforts

Orihuela 2 Horadada 0. Bottom three side Orihuela stunned visiting Horadada 2-0 to earn themselves three points over the table topping Reds with only their fourth win.

They took the lead on the stroke of half time in Saturday's Preferente encounter at the Los Arcos Stadium when Horacio fired a free kick low and hard toward the far corner of the goal for teenage striker Suarez to sidefoot in at the post.

In the 65th minute, Orihuela increased their lead when the former youth team player got his second of the game outpacing Horadada’s Campillo to slide the ball past the advancing Juanjo.

Manager Quintano will take great pride from a victory which ensures Orihuela are unbeaten in their last seven outings with twelve of their nineteen league points having been earned since mid December.

Meanwhile, Horadada boss Pedreńo will be wondering how his side could produce such an anaemic display after an encouraging run of two defeats in twenty league games.

The Reds boss made five changes to the side which played out an uninspiring draw against Algueña last week, with Jose Maria, Nacho, Quique, Manolo Campillo and Meseguer all drafted into the starting line-up. He left out the two target men, Saura and Chuecos, both of whom are yet to impress in a Horadada shirt. But with Campillo and Jose Marie playing through the middle provided by Meseguer and Ivan down the flanks the Reds provided little threat as Orihuela’s Pau and Moya were easily able to mop up their attacking ambitions.

In truth, during the opening period, neither side looked likely to score with the first shot of the game taking 30 minutes to unearth, and that sailing harmlessly over the bar from 25 yards. So the meagre home crowd were rather stunned when Orihuela opened their account just prior to the half time interval.

After Vidal was caught on the ball defender Campillo conceded a yellow card just outside the box for handball. Horacio drove the resultant free kick through the Horadada defence which Suarez met at the far post to ease in past a flatfooted Juanjo. It was the only bright spark of a poor opening forty-five.

The second period was little better although Pedreńo did introduce the attacking threesome of Josan, Saura and Chuecos. Shortly after their arrival some tidy interplay between the two big forwards won a corner on the left. When Josan's delivery was only half-cleared, Saura could have done better lashing a volley low into the side netting.

The home side extended their lead with only their second opportunity of the game. After Nacho went down on the half way line, with too many of the Reds standing around waiting for a free kick, a long ball over the top saw Suarez outpace Campillo to convert from just inside the box.

Horadada manager Antonio Pedreńo:

"The first goal is disappointing because we know how dangerous Orihuela are from set-pieces.
"Then the ref misses a foul on Nacho - that's a crucial decision that's gone against us.
"They've put the ball in the net twice from two chances and when we've had the opportunity to do that we haven't taken them."