Las Palmas draws at home with one player less against Mirandés (0-0)
It couldn't be. UD Las Palmas couldn't maintain their winning streak at home as they drew 0-0 against Mirandés in the match played this Monday at Gran Canaria. The yellows had to play for an hour with one less player after Dinko Horkas was sent off, forcing them to change their initial game plan to secure the draw.
Aware of the results of other direct rivals in the upper part of the standings, UD Las Palmas took to the field with determination on an afternoon when Jonathan Viera regained his starting position. The first shots from the Gran Canaria team came from Lukovic - on several occasions -, Viera himself, and Manu Fuster. But they did not find the final destination.
The match unfolded as expected during the first half-hour, although without any goals. UD Las Palmas then had 71% possession, but an event caused the script to take an unexpected turn: Dinko Horkas was sent off in the 34th minute after the VAR room prompted the referee to review a play. Ais Reig interpreted that the Croatian goalkeeper touched the ball with his arm outside the area, following a shot from Fernández from his own half, and Las Palmas was left with ten players on the field from that moment.
García Fernández decided to substitute Viera so that goalkeeper José Antonio Caro could debut in front of the Gran Canaria fans. The match had entered a risky phase, which could have been worse when, in the 42nd minute, the referee awarded a penalty for alleged handball by Sergio Barcia after a shot from Medrano. Once again, the VAR room intervened and prompted Ais Reig to correct his mistake, overturning the initial decision upon observing that the yellow defender's contact with the ball was in a natural position.
With the disappointment of Horkas' expulsion, the scare of the penalty that did not materialize, and the disruption of the initial plans, the first half ended with the scoreline intact but with a need to find a formula for a reaction.
In the second half, with one player less, the conditions of the match changed. Mirandés then managed to reach 68% possession while Las Palmas organized themselves to defend and counterattack.
Time passed with mutual wear and tear and without chances. Both coaches used their substitutes, but the match did not change its course, and in the end, the points were shared, with no goals scored.