Eibar Urko Division of Honour Youth Team are champions of the Basque Cup

This weekend the Eibar Urko Division of Honour Juvenil youth team have been proclaimed champions of the Basque Cup, beating Danok Bat of Bilbao on penalties, after the game had ended in a one-all draw.

Eibar Urko reached the final after a pass in the round of 32 and victories against Hernani in the the round of 16, against Indartsu in the quarter-final and Santutxu FC in the semi-final.  The starting line-up of Eibar Urko was: Jokin, Barruetabeña, Julen Etxaniz, Artetxe, Barrenetxea; Susaeta, Amutxastegi; José Etxaniz, Gandiaga, De Paz; Unai Arietaleas. With the Unbe sports complex fit to burst with people and in the presence of the president Amaia Gorostiza in the stand, the game was evenly matched at the start, with a lot of respect being shown by both sides and little continuity in the play. Halfway through the first half, a square cross from the right was met by Unai Arietaleanizbeaskoa who made it 1–0. The joy in Urbe didn’t last long however, because ten minutes later and with half time beckoning Danok Bat levelled the score from a corner.

The second half began with Danok Bat pressing higher up the field and bringing danger to the set pieces, however slowly but surely Eibar shook off the pressure and began to generate danger themselves, the clearest chance falling to Aitor de Paz in a one-on-one that the Danok Bat keeper, Jagoba Zárraga, did well to keep out. Five minutes from the end of the match, Iñigo Susaeta was sent off after being shown a straight red card and Eibar were down to 10 men. Despite being numerically inferior, during the 30 minutes of extra time Eibar defended very well, with discipline and hard work getting the team to the penalty shoot-out.

During the penalties, Aitor de Paz, Gorka Amutxastegi, Jon Barruetabeña and Ander Arroyo scored for SD Eibar and started a party in the stands at Unbe by winning a prestigious title that is well-deserved for the azulgrana players and coaching staff.