So Near Yet So Far…

By: wan | September 24th, 2008

If you are a Betis fan, you have to feel proud of the way that the team performed in yesterday’s match against the Catalan giants.

Many had already written us off way before the game even started but we showed them just what spirit and will can do when perhaps talent is lacking.

For 80 minutes, I was in heaven – hoping that the game would end right there…

Alas things were not to be and a mistake by Nelson saw the ball float over the defence onto the feet of Eidur Gudjohnson who volleyed the ball sweetly into the corner. Yet to reduce the game to this image would do a major disservice to the performance by Betis.

Before the game, there were many criticisms about the feeble Betis attack, how this Barcelona team has now been awoken – scoring 3 past Sporting Lisbon and 6 past Sporting Gjion – and many were predicting a thrashing for the Andalucians. And for a while it looked like these doomsayers were on the right track.

Two pieces of magic by Lionel Messi and two clinical finishes by Eto’o and before half an hour had even gone past, Betis were two goals down and I was fearing the worst. I was shocked that despite my reservations, Betis had decided to take the game to Barcelona and for a while, they were being exposed as a much inferior product even though the tactical formation was the same. While I applauded the courage, I also feared the folly of this approach. It was akin to a mouse deciding to twitch the whiskers of a lion – you can only go so far before the lion roars…

During this time, Gonzalez again proved what a big talent he was, constantly troubling the Barca defence down the flanks (where I had predicted space could be found) while Emana tried to support his forarys. But with Sergio Garcia strangely subdued, the attack lacked focus. Aurelio defended way too deep, almost to the point of becoming a third centre-back, and Barca dominated midfield.

Because the team was defending very high up the field, there was always the danger of the Barca strikers getting in behind the defence and so it proved. All it seemed was lost…

Half-time came with me wondering if things were going to change. By then, Luciano Monzon had come on for Gonzalez to strengthen the defensive side of things and frankly I prayed that the team can keep the score down to save some pride. Little did I know what was to come.

Garcia came alive in the second half and showed just why big money was paid for his services as he took the game to the Barca defence. From a foul by the defenders in the 59th minute, Capi innocently rolled the indirect free-kick to Monzon who smashed a left-foot shot through the wall into the net. GOAL! It was the first for Betis and a goal worthy of breaking the duck for the season.

You could sense the tide changing as confidence flowed through the team. True Barca was still looking menancing but now Betis was giving as good as they get and in particular the Barca defence began to panic. Then the miracle happened…Garcia got the ball in midfield and played it out wide to Jose Mari. He raced by a Barca defender, got into the box and chipped the ball towards the far post. Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes got a finger on the ball but he couldn’t keep it out…GOAL!!! Betis Equalised!! 2-2!!!

I could scarely believe my own eyes….could this be real I wondered…Being the supersitious sort, I decided to remain in the position that I was for fear that I would disrupt the Karma in front of my television…while the cramps and pain soon shot through my body, I was numb with joy and would have gladly suffered for the cause…I even got greedy, thinking that perhaps Betis could have nicked in a lucky third and we could be looking at famous victory…and at all places Nou Camp!!!

Well the joy lasted until the 80th minute. By then, I could tell that the result was set. It was one thing to fight back from 2 down to equalise but to expect the players to come back again was asking far too much. They had given their all and I had to be satisfied with that.

Overall, on reflection after the game, I was proud, very proud of the way the team performed. Yes we got nothing out of the game but we stood toe-to-toe with Barca and gave them the fright of their lives. Garcia blossomed in this game while Nelson and Monzon were equally impressive. This gave me hope for the future. Even though Betis is one place above the relegation zone, this is not a true reflection of their abilities.

I am sure better days are ahead and guess who we are meeting next? Real Madrid! And once again they are coming off an even more impressive 7-1 win against – you guessed it – Sporting Gijon!!!! The parallels could not be more similar…Once again the predictions would be for a thrashing and once again I feel quietly confident.

Mark my words, the Galacticos are going down…