Santi Cazorla scored a vital free-kick with his supposed ‘weak’ foot on Wednesday night, sending boyhood club Real Oviedo through to the La Liga promotion play-off final.
Santi Cazorla celebrating with Real Oviedo (Photo via Cazorla on Instagram)
Photo via Cazorla on Instagram
Seven years after leaving Arsenal and at the age of 40, Santi Cazorla continues to play a regular role for Real Oviedo in the Spanish second tier.
The former Gunner has made 34 appearances for Oviedo this season, including 25 starts. But it was in a substitute appearance in midweek that he scored his most important goal since signing for the club.
Santi Cazorla celebrating a goal for Real Oviedo (Photo via Cazorla on Instagram)
Photo via Cazorla on Instagram
Having finished third in La Liga 2, Oviedo are currently playing in the promotion play-offs for the chance to rejoin the top tier of Spanish football.
Taking on UD Almeria in the semi-final, Cazorla played 82 minutes of a 2-1 win in the first leg, but he came on at half-time of Wednesday’s second leg with his team 1-0 down – level at 2-2 on aggregate.
Just a few minutes into his substitute showing, the Spanish international won a free-kick, and he stepped up to score it with his ‘weaker’ left foot.
"The fairytale story continues!" 🎙️
At 40 years old, Santi Cazorla scores the free kick that sends his boyhood club Real Oviedo through to the LALIGA promotion playoff final 🙌
What a moment 💙 pic.twitter.com/ntVEVO71gw
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) June 11, 2025
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Santi Cazorla taking a set-piece for Real Oviedo (Photo via Cazorla on Instagram)
Photo via Cazorla on Instagram
Arsenal fans will be well aware that Cazorla doesn’t really have a weak foot, but he does generally have a preference for using his right. Gunners supporters will recall his iconic right-footed free-kick to get their team back in the mix in the 2014 FA Cup final.
So to take on an important free-kick with his left just shows the confidence the player has on both sides.
Oviedo ended up drawing the match 1-1, sending them through to the play-off final 3-2 on aggregate. The team will face either Mirandes or Racing de Santander in the play-off final, depending on the winner of their semi.
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