Given these two sides had mustered just three goals between them this season, it came as no surprise that neither goalkeeper was tested in the opening exchanges. Valladolid stopper Sergio Asenjo did scramble across his line when Lucas Pérez’s free-kick took a wicked deflection but ultimately looped wide, while Lucas Olaza fired over with a set-piece of his own at the other end.
The lack of quality on show was summed up by a hapless finish from Shon Weissman, who missed the target from close range after being picked out by a right-wing cross. The striker did finally land the first shot on target in first half injury time though when his powerful header was saved.
Valladolid were much more lively after the break, and after Monchu had nodded straight at the Ledesma from another glorious opening, the ‘keeper made a stunning double save, firstly denying Kike Pérez with a brilliant left handed stop, before somehow blocking Weissman’s follow-up. Indeed, the Cádiz goal was living a charmed life, further evidence when Óscar Plano clipped the bar with a fizzing 25-yard drive.
Weissman was to be thwarted by Ledesma twice more, either side of Juanjo Narváez flicking wide, although both efforts lacked power. And those saves proved to be vital as having looked toothless for 90 minutes, Negredo, who had unfathomably stepped over a teasing cross minutes earlier, was picked out by Joseba Zaldua and calmly converted from close range to complete a true smash and grab.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Jeremías Ledesma (Cádiz)
