Orihuela earns Copa del Rey Round Two berth

Orihuela earned a place in the Copa del Rey second round after a hard-fought extra-time victory over Langreo at the Nuevo Ganzábal stadium, sealing a 1-2 result in the extra period. A tactical change before kick-off had Orihuela looking to pressure Langreo higher up the pitch, and they immediately went on the front foot, with Alu testing the goalkeeper’s reflexes from a deflected effort and Miguel forcing a save from Adrián Torre after another constructive foray. Langreo, compact and well organized, answered by relying on disciplined defending and quick counter moves, sending longer balls toward their attackers and aiming to control the pace of play. In a first half dominated by mutual caution, the visitors managed to keep most danger away from their own box, and the game drifted to halftime with neither side able to fashion a meaningful scoring chance to tilt the balance. After the break Langreo pushed forward, restoring its intent and generating the game’s first real opening when Guille Cueto uncorked a shot that forced a deflection from Juan López near the Alicante area. The momentum shifted when a foul in the box on Vanderson earned Langreo a penalty, converted to put the locals ahead and raise the stakes for the visitors. Orihuela did not react immediately, and Langreo would go on to add a second goal that stretched the lead further, testing the visitors’ nerve. As regulation neared its end, Orihuela found a lifeline by drawing level and sending the match into extra time. The extra period began with both sides locked in a gritty battle, producing few clear chances, and Orihuela faced a setback when Chuli received a direct red card, forcing them to play with ten men. The numerical disadvantage did not derail the attempt, though; a determined Orihuela managed to carve out opportunities and, at a critical moment, recovered the deficit, leveling again and taking advantage of the extra time to clinch a win that sealed their progression to the second round. The final whistle confirmed Orihuela’s triumph and their advancement, marking a memorable Cup night in which tactical shifts, resilience, and moments of individual quality combined to overturn a late deficit and push the team into the next phase of the competition.