UD Las Palmas are left to focus on the league campaign after being knocked out by Rayo
Majadahonda in the second round of the Spanish Cup. Las Palmas took an early lead in the match, but the visitors turned the game on its head. The first couple of minutes saw Manolo Jiménez’s side lay siege on Rayo Majadahonda’s goal. A header by Maikel Mesa put the home side ahead in the third minute.
The Madrid team, far from being knocked back by this early setback, poured forward and created four goal-scoring chances. The first, a shot by Jeisson, brushed the post in the 9th minute. Then Martínez, following a cross, hit the post. (min. 17). The next chance came following a long range effort by Varela that nearly caught out Nauzet Pérez after an irregular bounce, the ball going behind for a corner. In the 26th minute, the home goalkeeper cleared a shot from the edge of the box by loanee Benito.
The yellows were able to rob a lot of balls due to their high positioning on the pitch, but were then unable to put together any meaningful move. There were a lot of new faces in the line-up, with most of the first team being rested. Momo, back from his muscular injury, came back into the team. Before the break, Las Palmas began to react again. A shot by Blum hit the side netting. Then a free kick by the same player didn’t find any team mate on the end of it. In the 40th minute, a lack of understanding between Nauzet Pérez and Mantovani allowed Varela to steal in and draw the away side level 1-1.
In the second half, the good-looking Rayo Majadahonda side began to control the match. Blum, with a shot from outside the box, tested the away goalkeeper. Fabio came on for Cristian Rivera as Manolo Jiménez decided to bring on some fresh legs. Maikel Mesa nearly got his team’s second goal, but hit his shot straight at the goalkeeper. The Tenerife-born player then went off injured, to be replaced by Tana.
Las Palmas then fell behind to a penalty by Iza, following a foul by Mantovani, to put Antonio Iriondo’s side ahead for the first time. Jiménez brought on goal scorer Rubén Castro in an attampt to force extra time. Las Palmas poured forward and created several good chances by Blum and Pekhart. The final whistle came, and with it a cup upset in the Estadio Gran Canaria.
