Real Madrid defeated by a 3rd Division team!
By Cindy Ferguson
If it is terrible for a first class team to lose against a similar power rival, losing on the hands of a 3rd division kind of unknown squad is definitively their worst nightmare.
The famous 2008 Copa del Rey (King’s Cup) add an historical reverse to its records, as Real Unión Club de Irún, a 3rd division team from the Spaniard Basque country, pushed the always favorite Real Madrid out of the competition in the Whites’ first round of the tournament.
The thing is that even though Real Madrid’ defeated 4-3 the Real Unión at the King's Cup encounter on November 11th, the Basque club still triumphed thanks to their previous home victory (3-2) on the first leg of the Round of 32. Irún had a great advantage on the count double rule, which means they were the team to score more goals away from home.
Before getting into details regarding this historical elimination, I will portray some aspects of these two teams. On one side there’s the Real Madrid, a team that has won the Cup 17 times (last in 1993) and that suddenly finds itself eliminated at home by a third-level club for the first time ever.
While on the other extreme is Real Unión, not exactly one of those teams that everyone follows, plus the club’s history does not favor the team to much. With 40 seasons on 3rd Division, 16 on 2nd Division B, 9 campaigns in the Segunda División and only 4 in La Liga, the “White-blacks” seems to hadn’t aimed for a real ambition in a while; because although on their last years they haven’t achieve much, at their early ones they even grabbed four Spanish Cups.
During the game, the Basque team dominated as if they had played at this level forever and within minutes on the 1st half Irún’s player Abasolo, set the net on fire with the first goal of the match; the Madrid’s fanatics at the moment were still under the impression that it was just a “lucky strike” from the visitors. Just like in the game played at the Stadium Gal a few weeks back, Real Madrid kept it simple making many believe there was nothing to worry about. The only player from “The Whites” who was really showing his indignity about the situation was Captain Raúl, who at minute 34 tied the game for a brief moment.
Everybody wondered what Irún’s coach Iñaki Alonso told his players during the half time break, as the squad came out more aggressive and focused than ever, and on the fourth minute of the second part striker Asier Salcedo gave the lead one more time to the Segunda B club. Captain Raúl was aspiring high and a minute later put the 2-2 for the relief of the infuriated fans.
The 20 year old Alberto Bueno from the Meringues’ youth system get his official debut and took great advantage of it, by putting a big smile on Coach Bernd Schuster with a good goal on the rivals at 68 minute. Then Raúl knew that with a goal difference the team was set for the next round of the King’s Cup and at 86’ left no doubt why he is the man filling the big shoes of the team as the 4-2 score was looking definitive.
However Irún’s player Eneko Romo reminded us on the line “it’s not over until minute 90” and few seconds before wrapping up the encounter, he was claiming their ticket to continue on the Cup, ticket that classified a team who came with a humble spirit, but left with a well deserved privileged conquest.
About the author:
Cindy Ferguson is a true fan and sports writer of Soccer reviews and Sports Betting. Feel free to reprint this article in its whole on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content