Cortes seize late momentum, down Valle Egüés 2-0 at Sarriguren to climb into Group 15’s upper echelon
On a cool autumn evening in Sarriguren, Cortes delivered a measured and clinical performance that will be felt across the Tercera División RFEF’s Group 15. With a 2-0 victory over Valle Egüés, Cortes not only extended their impressive run of form but also vaulted into the top four, as Valle Egüés were left to contemplate missed opportunities and mounting pressure.
There was little comfort to be found for the home side, who entered the fixture brimming with cautious optimism. Valle Egüés had, after all, rediscovered their winning touch just a week prior at Oberena, banking a 2-0 away win that seemed to suggest a squad finding its rhythm after a patchy start. Yet, the momentum that had been building unraveled in front of their supporters as Cortes showcased a blend of patience and resolve that suggest they could be contenders in the weeks to come.
From the opening whistle, Valle Egüés sought to impose themselves with familiar attacking verve, looking for the breakthrough that would bend Sarriguren to their will. But Cortes, steady and unflinching, absorbed pressure with an organization that belied their position just outside the promotion places. Neither side could fashion a clear chance in the first half hour, with the play characterized by cautious midfield exchanges and an eagerness not to concede the initiative.
The breakthrough arrived in the 44th minute—a moment of clarity amid the stalemate. Cortes, moving fluidly down the right, found space behind Valle Egüés’ stretched back line. The ball was squared sharply into the box, and with defenders scrambling, an unmarked Cortes forward applied a decisive finish, steering the ball past the Egüés keeper and silencing the home crowd. The goal, coming on the verge of halftime, forced Valle Egüés to recalibrate; they now required a response, and quickly.
The second half opened with Valle Egüés pressing higher, their urgency tangible as they sought an equalizer that would keep them within striking distance of the upper tier. But for all their intent, Cortes’ defensive discipline paid dividends. Conceding neither space nor composure, the visitors frustrated Valle Egüés’ attacking trio and forced the home side into speculative efforts that rarely troubled the keeper.
The contest’s defining moment arrived in the 76th minute. As Valle Egüés built up play on the left, tempers flared amid a tight midfield battle. The referee, eager to maintain control, reached for red after a reckless challenge from a Valle Egüés midfielder, reducing the hosts to ten men and dissipating whatever momentum remained. From that point, Cortes were content to control possession, drawing Egüés out and searching for a decisive second goal.
With Valle Egüés exposed and chasing the game, Cortes struck again on the cusp of full time. In the 90th minute, a clinical counterattack exploited the gaps left by Egüés’ desperate push forward. The move, orchestrated through swift interplay, was capped off by another Cortes striker, who beat the stranded keeper with a composed low drive—2-0, and with it, any lingering doubt was erased.
The implications of the result reach beyond the confines of Estadio Sarriguren. Cortes’ tally rises to 10 points from five matches (3 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss), lifting them into a tie for the top four and signaling an ambition that resonates throughout the division. Valle Egüés, meanwhile, slip further from the promotion conversation. Now 9th with 7 points from 5 matches (2 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses), their recent form—a pair of wins punctuated by lingering defensive questions—will be scrutinized as they seek to regroup before momentum slips away entirely.
There is no comfort to be drawn from recent history between these sides: prior encounters in Group 15 have been fiercely contested, typically defined by narrow margins and late drama. Yet, today’s events reflect a growing gap in consistency—a gap that Cortes will look to widen in the coming weeks.
For Valle Egüés, the path forward is clear: rediscover defensive solidity, channel the attacking fluency that secured notable wins at Oberena and Bidezarra, and avoid lapses in discipline that cost dearly against Cortes. The red card, a jarring punctuation to a subdued night, must serve as a lesson in composure under pressure.
Cortes, for their part, will turn their attention to consolidation. Having navigated a tricky run of fixtures—including hard-fought wins over Aoiz and Izarra, as well as a tightly contested draw with Huarte—their blend of patience and cutting edge is a formula that could yield further success. With the top of Group 15 in sight, the stakes grow with every match.
As the season’s narrative unfolds, tonight’s result is a statement: Cortes are contenders, Valle Egüés are searching for answers, and Group 15 is far from settled. The next chapter begins with both sides at a crossroads—one fueled by ambition, the other by necessity.