Jesé, the Gran Canaria striker, don show say e fit be temperamental. For the first leg of the playoff semi-final, e bin vex when coach Luis Garcia change am for minute 67. E bin hit water bottle and shake head for bench.
But today for La Rosaleda, for the return leg, Jesé score for minute 3. First ball wey e touch, e use right foot put am inside net from centre of area. Na early goal wey give Las Palmas hope wey dem go force extra time after 0-1 first leg loss.
Malaga wey coach Juanfran Funes dey lead come into match with advantage from 0-1 win for Gran Canaria. David Larrubia, wey dem call ‘Mago’, score that goal. If Las Palmas neutralize the aggregate, match go go extra time. If no goal for extra time, Malaga go pass because dem finish fourth for regular season, Las Palmas fifth.
Juanfran Funes talk say dem dey between sword and wall but e warn say Las Palmas fit be more dangerous. E use boxing analogy: “Na second round. We only throw one right hook.” E also reference Thomas Edison wey try one thousand times before e succeed. “Edison light bulb after thousand tries. First and second e fail. That give us confidence and reinforce our values.”
Malaga go make one change: Javi Montero go replace Einar Galilea for defence because of injury. The city council don give special permission for bars to show match on big screens for terraces, after request from Malaga hotel association.
For Las Palmas, this match na toughest yet. Dis season dem don play Malaga three times and lose all, no score. Coach Luis Garcia talk say: “All that dey agitate me to find solutions and help my players win a match wey go erase the past.”
Pejiño start first leg but no perform well, so Pedrola go return to starting eleven. No other changes expected because of many injuries: Viti, Ale Garcia, Loiodice, Recoba, Sandro all out. Sergio Barcia wey dey injured fit return to squad.
Match start with Las Palmas pressure. For minute 3, Marvin Park assist Jesé wey score from centre area. Malaga try respond but Larrubia miss chance. First half end 0-1.
Second half, Malaga push more. For minute 60, Jesé get yellow card after clash with keeper Alfonso Herrero. E leave pitch and hug coach Luis Garcia. For minute 67, Joaquin Muñoz equalize for Malaga with right foot from centre area. Assist from Rafita. Score 1-1.
Both sides try for winner. Larrubia and Muñoz miss chances. Las Palmas also miss. Seven minutes added time but no more goal. Final score 1-1. Malaga go through to final because of better league position.
