To Heliodorus with a stain. UD handed over the victory, after a superb action by Álex Calvo, which left Álex Suárez and Eric Curbelo in evidence, and did not go beyond a draw against Málaga CF (2-2) in the match before the Canarian classic. Pejiño, with a goal similar to the one he scored against Tenerife in the first round -a work of art from outside the area- seemed to keep the pulse on track (75 ‘), but the defensive strength of previous occasions was lacking. UD, six days after setting foot on the land of Teide, loses the lead and concedes two goals, a symptom to set off alarm bells.
Óscar Clemente’s insistence and a point-blank shot from Viera on 93′ could have changed the course of history. A victory in the last four days, but what better occasion than to fall in love again against the eternal rival. Valles lost his unbeaten record and left it in 590 minutes.
Two penalties, 45 minutes and a journey towards confusion. That was the first act. The UD began in ‘cyclone mode’, in true Quevedo style, and ended under a blanket of melancholy. Prey to his fears, in a first act with two goals, after two maximum penalty shots. Viera, after five minutes, took advantage of a hand from Esteban Burgos. The referee González Esteban resorted to VAR and the Messiah ended his drought.
It was the first shot at the yellow gate and the fragrance of the steamroller. The record-breaker got away with it. The weight of inertia. Pejiño, leaning to the right, shoots before Yáñez and confirms the bugle call.
A disproportionate departure from Valles hit Juande Rivas in the face. Fran Sol finished the unbeatable record for the La Rinconada goalkeeper and left it in 598 minutes. With the equalizer on the scoreboard, the pressure from Malacitana had an effect and generated tons of doubts in the locals. Moleiro, listed to the left, maintained his particular duel with Delmas. Launch of Ramón and fissures in the area of idea generation. Enzo Loiodice is overwhelmed after a sublime combination with Viera and a penalty is claimed. Missing on Moleiro in the front of the area and the hit of the ’21’ touches the barrier. Slips when leaving the ball with the pressure of Febas and Ramón. Málaga designed a scenario of quicksand. Álex Suárez and Eric Curbelo err on the side of confidence and give away the ball. A revulsion was missing. Neither Viera, Pejiño and Moleiro could overflow. Not a square meter. Curbelo blocks a center with poison for Sol.
And the Malaga gunman, just below the crossbar, wasted the 1-2. He had been left alone before Valles. The whistles are back. The siege of Málaga was incontestable. The prize of bloody pressure. In the second half, Pimienta brought on Fabio González for Nuke Mfulu. The Franco-Congolese was an absolute disappointment. Ramalho aborted all the danger in a neat way. A rival doomed to relegation continued to generate a ton of doubts. A center from Delmas is touched by Coco and caught by Valles. Launch of Pejiño and the UD returns to complete merits for the victory. Cristian surpasses Álex Suárez and Sol does not reach by centimeters.
Pejiño’s great goal seemed to draw ecstasy. But Álex Calvo left Suárez and Curbelo and silenced Gran Canaria. An acrobatic shot from Viera was the canvas of victory, in that 93rd minute, but Yáñez thwarted that devilish cry from the steamroller.
Data sheet
UD Las Palmas: Álvaro Valles; Álex Suárez, Saúl Coco, Eric Curbelo, Sergi Cardona; Nuke Mfulu (Fabio, 46′), Enzo Loidice (Kaptoum, 67′), Jonathan Viera; Pejiño, Florin Andone (Loren Morón, 67′) and Alberto Moleiro (Óscar Clemente, 73′).
Malaga CF: Yanez; Delmas, Ramalho, Esteban Burgos, Juande, Cristian; Villalba (Rubén Castro, 74′), Febas, Ramón (Jozabed, 59′), Lago Junior; and Fran Sol (Appiah, 74′).
Goals: 1-0, min. 3: Jonathan Viera -penalty-. 1-1 min. 18: Fran Sol -penalty-. 2-1 min. 75: Pejino. 2-2 min. 86: Alex Calvo.
Referee: González Esteban (C. Vasco). He booked Nuke Mfulu, Sergi Cardona and Eric Curbelo.
Incidents: Gran Canaria Stadium, before some 19,612 spectators.
