Franco Colapinto’s joy at the Buenos Aires show: ‘A dream come true’ | OneFootball

Real Sociedad won 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw at the end of a frenetic 120 minutes of regular time and extra time, with Julián Alvarez as the standout star. However, the hero of the night at La Cartuja in Seville was goalkeeper Unai Marrero, born 24 years ago in Azpeitia, a town of barely 15,000 people located just under 50 kilometers from San Sebastián. Usually a backup, though a starter in this competition, he saved penalties from Alexander Sørloth and Araña himself, sending the Donostiarras into delirium.

The match was a roller coaster. From start to finish. And that’s no exaggeration. Ander Barrenetxea opened the scoring with a header after just 13 seconds on the clock. It was the fastest goal in a domestic final in Spain. And it was a bucket of cold water for Diego Simeone and his team.

Atlético de Madrid responded. And they found the equalizer in a move started by Antoine Griezmann, which went through Julián, who without touching the ball left Ademola Lookman all alone. The Nigerian did not forgive. And the final started all over again.

Real Sociedad, led by Pellegrino Matarazzo—the Italian coach worked a miracle by lifting them out of relegation trouble and turning them into contenders—felt the blow. And they went looking for the edge. They pushed and pushed, but Juan Musso and his defenders weathered the storm.

It looked like they would go into halftime at 1-1, but the Argentine goalkeeper came out recklessly to punch the ball clear, missed it, and crashed into the body of Portuguese forward Gonçalo Guedes. Referee Javier Alberola Rojas pointed to the spot, and Mikel Oyarzábal did not waste the chance to put his team back in front.

Atlético—who started with Nahuel Molina and Giuliano Simeone in the lineup alongside Álvarez and Musso—came out determined to turn the story around in the second half. But they could do little until the 38th minute, when Julián appeared in all his brilliance. Thiago Almada—who had come on shortly before, just like Nico González—laid it off to him at the edge of the box, and Araña, with an unforgettable left-footed strike after a sublime feint, put his signature on the 2-2.

That’s how they went into extra time. But neither side wanted penalties. The man from Calchín, Córdoba, on fire, came within inches of giving Atleti the win with a thunderous right-footed shot that crashed off the post. But the ball bounced away. Shortly after, Musso produced a stunning double save to prevent defeat. Both teams pushed, both teams went for it, but in the end, everything was decided from 12 yards.

Marrero, who has spent his whole life at Real Sociedad and has not yet reached 20 matches with the first team, rose to the occasion in the first two rounds of the shootout. Musso did his part by saving Óskarsson’s attempt. But after that everyone converted, and Marín, with a shot into the top corner, sealed the story.

“I’m not aware of what this means. This can’t be explained. All the people of Gipuzkoa who suffered for so many years… Now we are living beautiful moments. You have to enjoy it, dream, believe. The boy who dreamed as a child achieved his dream,” celebrated Marrero, the unlikeliest hero, who left another brilliant night from Julián Alvarez without a reward.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.