UD loses at El Sardinero against a Racing team precise in attack (4-1)
UD Las Palmas suffered their most severe defeat of the season (4-1) at El Sardinero, against a Racing de Santander team that secures the top spot in the standings with this result. The match saw the debut of Iker Bravo, in front of 21,783 fans.
Luis García Fernández's players received support during the match from a significant group of islander fans who traveled to be present at the event in El Sardinero. The yellows approached the match with personality and intensity, placing many players in Racing's defensive field in an attempt to create early danger.
The first moment of danger came at the 13th minute, on both sides of the field. First, Las Palmas, with a play by Jesé that Fuster finished with a shot lacking power. Andrés Martín responded with a cross shot in the subsequent play, which Dinko Horkas managed to deflect to a corner.
Luis García faced an early setback in the 20th minute of the game when right-back Viti Rozada requested a substitution due to injury. The coach immediately placed Alex Suárez on the field, without time for a prior warm-up except for the one before the initial whistle.
In the 27th minute, controversy arose with a goal awarded to Racing, scored by Manex Lozano. The yellow players protested to the referee about a push by Damián on Jonathan Viera, from behind, during the ball steal that led to the counterattack and the 1-0 play. The Canarian protests were not heeded by the referee and his assistants.
Two more goals were yet to be seen before halftime. Las Palmas equalized 1-1 in the 38th minute, after a free kick by Viera that Ezkieta failed to control, and Manu Fuster finished by catching the ball in the small area. But Racing would take the lead again with a shot by Andrés Martín from the edge of the area. Alex Suárez protested to the referee after being pushed again, but his complaints were ignored, and he was also shown a yellow card.
Las Palmas tried to react in the second half, facing an opponent that proved lethal on the counterattack. In the 65th minute, goalkeeper Ezkieta saved his team by deflecting a direct free kick from Jonathan Viera that was aimed at the post.
But the scoreboard moved two more times in this period for the home team, with counterattack plays finished by Suleiman and Iñigo Vicente to seal the final 4-1 score.