When the situation was at its most difficult, UD Las Palmas managed to equalize against Osasuna (1-1) in a match that closed out January at the Gran Canaria Stadium. The yellow team never stopped fighting on a challenging night that became even tougher after the visitors’ goal and the late-game expulsion of Essugo.
Las Palmas kept pushing, and in extra time, Belgian player Januzaj scored following a free kick that deflected off the wall and caught goalkeeper Sergio Herrera by surprise. Friday night also marked the official debut of French defender Andy Pelmard, a recent winter signing.
From the start, both teams’ styles were on full display, with UD Las Palmas building their plays patiently in search of the Osasuna goal. The yellow team delivered the first dangerous moment through Moleiro, whose looping shot in the 8th minute went just wide. The visitors responded three minutes later with a direct free kick by Rubén García, which narrowly cleared Cillessen’s crossbar after beating the wall.
The match was hotly contested in many areas of the field, though there was little action in either penalty area during the first half-hour. Patience was essential on this island night. Diego Martínez’s players took precautions as their opponents looked to exploit any recoveries in midfield with rapid counterattacks.
Cillessen was called into action with an excellent save in the 32nd minute, stopping a powerful header from Ante Budimir that required quick reflexes. The play began with a cross and a setup pass for the visiting striker’s effort.
The first half’s most dangerous moment came in the 41st minute when Kike Barja unleashed a long-range shot that struck the post and deflected away from Cillessen’s goal. The first period ended 0-0, a half marked by hurdles for the home team, whose superior possession failed to translate into goals.
The game grew more complicated in the second half. Osasuna took the lead through Aimar Oroz, scoring on their second real chance of the period. Las Palmas responded with determination but lacked both space and creativity. Sandro came close to equalizing with a powerful shot, but Sergio Herrera made an impressive one-handed save.
VAR reviewed an incident involving Moleiro, who was pulled down by Areso in the second half. However, after a lengthy review, the play was ruled out due to a prior foul by Fabio Silva, frustrating the home side further. Matters worsened minutes later when Essugo was sent off with a second yellow card, leaving Las Palmas to fight with ten men from the 72nd minute.
Despite the adversity, Las Palmas refused to give up. In the closing stages, they showed incredible determination and produced their best moments of the match. In stoppage time, Januzaj struck a fortuitous free kick that deflected off the wall and found the back of the net, securing a precious point for the Canary Islanders.