Eibar played the football and Sporting took the three points
Sporting, with only two chances, scored twice
Eibar were superior and deserved better luck in the Molinón, but Sporting de Gijón were tremendously effective and scored on each one of the only two chances they had all game, thus taking three vital points in their fight to stay in the division.
From the start, the gunsmiths were better placed on the field and showed their superiority, although they had trouble getting forward and creating clear scoring opportunities.
Jota could have made it 0-1 in the 20th minute after some fine individual play that left him with just the keeper to beat, but his shot lacked direction and Cuéllar made the save.
Fifteen minutes later Jota had another chance to score in a one-on-one against Cuéllar, but the keeper saved it again, turning the ball away for a corner.
The game looked to be heading for 0-0 at the break when in the 43rd minute, in a solitary piece of play, Carmona headed a fine cross from the left by Jony into the net.
After a faltering start to the second period, Eibar again took control of proceedings, although the team again lacked clarity going forward.
Enrich could have levelled the score in the 71st minute in what was the game’s clearest chance. He shot from outside the box but Cuéllar got a hand to the ball, which hit the post and rolled across the goal line without going in.
Eibar continued to press but Sporting sentenced the game in a counter-attack finished off by Jony in the 82nd minute.
A disallowed goal by Inui and a fine shot in the dying moments by Borja, that Cuéllar managed to deal with, were the final attempts by Eibar to reduce the deficit.
The best news of the encounter from Eibar’s point of view came with five minutes left to play, when the home-grown player Ander Gayoso made his début in the First Division - a fitting reward coming near end of this season, after having been out injured during the first few months of the competition.