Salomón Rondón headed home the only goal of the match as "Oviedo" secured their first victory of the preseason with a 1-0 win against "Cultural Leonesa" in the friendly contest played in Grado. After three consecutive draws this summer, coach Paunovic's side finally found their winning form by capitalizing on their limited chances.
"Cultural Leonesa" actually started the match with more energy, creating three early opportunities that required saves from goalkeeper Moldovan, who earned a start in this fixture. However, once Oviedo weathered that initial storm, particularly after Bicho's attempt, they gradually took control of proceedings.
Yayo and Borja Sánchez began to influence the game more effectively, but it was Ovie Ejaria who particularly caught the eye. The English midfielder, currently on trial with Paunovic's team, showed impressive skills throughout. At the 32-minute mark, a clever backheel from Borja set up Ejaria to launch a long pass finding Forés in stride down the wing, though his finish was denied by Badia.
"We gave minutes to players who have had less prominence this summer, and they responded well," a satisfied Paunovic might have remarked after seeing his tactical approach bear fruit.
The breakthrough came in the 35th minute. Forés delivered a precise cross from near the byline, and Rondón met it with a perfectly placed header – announcing himself as the potential goalscorer Paunovic's squad has been seeking.
Before halftime, "Cultural Leonesa" nearly equalized after Moldovan's distribution error, but Marco Esteban made a crucial block to preserve Oviedo's lead.
The second half began with Omar's well-struck free kick forcing Badia into action. Interestingly, both Fornós and Paraschiv had their chances as the inevitable parade of substitutions slowed the game's tempo – quite normal for this stage of preseason preparations.
Perhaps the best opportunity after the break came in the 65th minute when Thiago connected with a corner kick rebound, sending his shot just wide of the post. "Oviedo" could have sealed the result more comfortably, but Viñas squandered a clear chance following a poor defensive clearance by the Leonese side.
As more key players were substituted, Oviedo maintained control until the final whistle. Lamine, Hassan, and Chaira all failed to convert their opportunities, keeping the score tight until the end. But Rondón's header proved enough.
Can this first preseason win provide the momentum Oviedo needs heading into the regular season? For now, they'll take satisfaction in breaking their string of draws with a clean sheet victory.
