Aramburu's last-gasp heroics save the day for Sociedad
Venezuelan defender Jon Mikel Aramburu became the unlikely hero with a dramatic 96th-minute winner as Real Sociedad secured their first victory under new boss Pellegrino Matarazzo.
A late, late show from an unlikely source gave Real Sociedad their first win under new gaffer Pellegrino Matarazzo, with defender Jon Mikel Aramburu playing the role of unlikely hero at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.
Last-gasp drama
Just when it looked like the points would be shared in Getafe, up popped Venezuelan defender Aramburu with a towering header in the 96th minute to send the travelling Txuri-urdin faithful into absolute scenes. Talk about leaving it late - this was properly last chance saloon stuff!
The dramatic winner came from a corner delivered by his mate Take Kubo, with Aramburu showing serious hang time to power home only his second ever goal in La Liga. His previous strike came in a much less consequential 3-1 win against Las Palmas, making this one all the sweeter for the 23-year-old.
Defensive rock with attacking instinct
Aramburu isn’t exactly known for his goalscoring prowess - that’s not his bread and butter, is it? The right-back has been noted more for his defensive abilities and particularly his impressive leap when clearing danger.
But this time, that aerial power was put to use at the business end, proving he’s got more to his game than just keeping clean sheets. After 63 appearances in the top flight for La Real, this moment will surely stand out as his most significant contribution yet.
Finding form after second-season syndrome
The Venezuelan international had been suffering from what many call the dreaded “second-season syndrome” earlier in the campaign, struggling to replicate the form that saw him shine in his breakthrough year and even at the Copa América with his national team.
However, recent performances suggest he’s turning a corner, and this match-winning moment could be just the confidence boost he needs to rediscover his best form.
After the match, the defender was understandably buzzing, dedicating his rare goal to his family and his homeland Venezuela, which is currently going through difficult times.
Matarazzo off the mark
For new boss Matarazzo, it’s the perfect start to his tenure at Anoeta. The American-Italian coach will be delighted with the character shown by his side to keep pushing until the final whistle, even if they made hard work of it after creating several chances to put the game to bed earlier.
Three points away at Getafe is no mean feat, and doing it in such dramatic fashion might just be the spark La Real need to climb the table in the coming weeks.