Returning to the direct promotion zone, UD Las Palmas managed to take all three points from Carlos Belmonte by winning 1-2 against Albacete Balompié on Monday. The yellow team had to come back from an early setback as Albacete scored the opening goal. But in the second half, Sidnei and Loiodice scored, adding the icing on the cake to a performance full of grit and ambition.
UD Las Palmas entered the match with determination to score first in the manchego night. The yellow team tried their luck in the box three times in the first 12 minutes with shots from Sandro (saved by the goalkeeper), Jonathan Viera, and Alex Suárez (close to the goal).
However, after just 13 minutes, the score was against them. With very little effort, Albacete managed to score, sending the ball into the back of the net past Valles. It was a long ball and a surprising deflection by Jonathan Dubasin that changed the trajectory of the ball just as the visiting goalkeeper started to move forward.
Once again, the team from Las Palmas had to face a match from behind, just like in previous games. The initial dominance of the team dropped a little after the goal, and they were shaken. They were almost caught out again in the 25th minute when Jonathan Dubasin ran behind the defenders and hit the post.
Las Palmas continued to have possession of the ball (up to 73% in the first half), but it was becoming more difficult to find gaps in the manchego defense.
The first decision by García Pimienta was made in the locker room before the second half started. Marvin Park was brought in again to add speed to the right flank where Álvaro Jiménez was still performing. The adjustment was aimed at recovering speed as a percussion tool.
The visitors' ambition was not suppressed. They kept trying and were encouraged after scoring the equalizer, a goal by Sidnei after a corner by Sandro Ramírez.
Las Palmas had half an hour to solve the game. And they did it with a siege on their opponents, who defended themselves with numerous players.
Sandro and Moleiro had tried to score from outside the box, but the goalkeeper and defenders blocked their attempts. Finally, Enzo Loiodice scored a precise shot from the front, making it 1-2. That goal finally reflected what was happening on the field.
The end of the game was exciting, with actions in both directions. The yellow team fought for every ball until the last play to protect three valuable points that put UD Las Palmas back in second place on the table with eight games remaining in the regular season.