MIRANDES MAKE WAVES BUT FINALLY FALL TO COPA EXIT

By Staff Writer
Updated: 8 February, 2012

The fairytale is finally over for CD Mirandes, and what better place for their magnificent march in the Copa del Rey to come to an end the iconic cathedral of football, San Mames.

A fitting place indeed, for the majority of the side grew up as fans of last night’s opponents, Athletic Club de Bilbao.

The semi final, second leg proved one game too far for the Segunda B side but they were far from embarrassed, despite the 6-2 scoreline. In fact there was something strangely compelling about the manner in which Mirandes succumbed to their famous opposition.

It was always going to be a tall order for Carlos Pouso and his team of course, and there were few who believed Mirandes could go to Bilbao and turn around the 2-1 first leg deficit from the previous week at Anduva.

Having already dispatched Racing Santander, Villarreal and Espanyol in their captivating run to the semi finals however, maybe just maybe.

The dream lasted just over ten minutes however as Iker Muniain put pay to any hopes of yet another giant killing. By half time it was 3-0 and Athletic fans were already planning their trip to Madrid in May.

It may have been a combination of Marcelo Bielsa’s men easing down a gear in the second half, or Mirandes upping their game, but the visitors pulled one back on the hour mark when Aitor Blanco pounced on a loose ball in the area to send the travelling fans, and a fair few home fans it has to be said, into raptures.

It was not to be however and although Blanco got himself another, Athletic got three more to win the tie 8-3 on aggregate and book a place in the final where they will play Barcelona or Valencia, who meet tonight with the score level at 1-1 after the first match in the Mestalla.

There was mutual respect from both sets of players on the final whistle, something which is becoming all too rare in modern football and you would imagine that there would be more than a few of the Mirandes players will making the trip to the final in May. In fact there has even been the suggestion that they could be invited as guests of honour!

We mustn’t think that their season has ended for Mirandes with this defeat either. Carlos Pouso must get his team focused again ready for the league trip to Palencia at the weekend.

The club sit top of the table, four points clear of second-place Ponferradina and seven ahead of Eibar in third. They have had a fantastic season and look comfortable to reach the play-offs where they will be aiming to book a place in la segunda for the first time in the club’s 85 year history.

They certainly have the players to make the jump up in class and there has already been a influx of scouts down at Anduva this season monitoring their most promising players.

Whatever happens now, the club from the small city of Miranda de Ebro have certainly announced themselves to fans of the Spanish game and you could just be hearing a little more from them in the coming seasons.

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