Las Palmas lost out tonight to Fuenlabrada (1-3) and missed a great chance to be among the front runners. Las Palmas found it hard to overcome the uncompromising back line of CF Fuenlabrada. Their ordered defensive display tied the home side down in the early stages of the match, and they found it hard to put together passing moves anywhere near the opponents’ penalty area. In general terms this was Las Palmas’ least impressive performances.
A shot by Jonathan Viera that was off target and two breaks down the left wing by Srnic, the home side’s best player, was the best they had to offer before Fuenlabrada went ahead in the 28th minute, through Hugo Fraile. VAR adjudged that Mauricio Lemos fouled Oriol Riera inside the box. Asturias-born referee Areces Franco checked the replay before pointing to the penalty spot, some two minutes after the action had taken place.
Las Palmas have been dogged by injuries. After half an hour Álvaro Lemos was forced off, to be replaced by Eric Curbelo. The game was not being played at a pace which a fast attacking team like Las Palmas would have liked. Fuenlabrada left no gaps and didn’t allow the home side to move the ball around quickly. VAR was also called into action for the away side’s second goal just before the interval. Nteka was in an onside position as he tucked the ball away under Josep Martínez.
The home side had no alternative but to go for broke in the second half. Cedrés and Pekhart both had chances to get back into the game, as did Srnic. Las Palmas laid siege on the goal defended by Biel Rivas, but with no reward. Fuenlabrada played deep, as they looked to play out their comfortable two-goal advantage. The sending off of Álex Vallejo for two yellow cards some fifteen minutes before the end added some spice to the game. However, yet another penalty, again scored by Hugo Fraile gave the away side an unassailable 0-3 lead with just five minutes to go. Jonathan Viera gave the home side a consolation goal direct from a free kick in the 87th minute.
