CADIZ, Spain—The slight, yellow-draped figure of No. 27 stands stoic near the edge of the 18-yard box.
Around him, 13,278 yellow- and blue-clad fans rise as one in collective anticipation. On this sun-drenched pitch in Andalusia, Spain, No. 27—a player by the name of Ortuño—can send his football club into an unlikely promotion playoff with a goal.
The stadium falls into a hush. The initial cacophony of whistling, gesturing, and frantic puffing of cigarettes, which followed the penalty decision have been replaced with nervous energy.
Ortuño jogs up and promptly skies his effort some 20 feet over the crossbar, eliciting sighs of shock and disbelief from the home crowd.
Mere seconds after the setback, however, the fans are unanimously chanting and clapping in support of their unlucky striker.
In this barren corner of the southern province of Andalusia, there are few constants: a dry, desolate heat, a turbulent economy, and Cádiz Club de Fútbol.
