In the run-up to the Christmas holidays for Spanish football, the Gran Canaria Stadium forgot about the star of Bethlehem. Sandro Ramírez's is cooler. A great goal from a free kick launched Las Palmas' victory over Espanyol on matchday 18 of the League. The target was a reward for the efforts of '19', who, from the left wing, carried out a performance of constant insistence and did not waste the best opportunity available to him.
His decisive direct free kick It took place on the equinox of a nondescript second part. Leandro Cabrera, spectacularly, had knocked down Adnan Januzaj, one of Diego Martínez's provocateurs, in the front. The former Málaga player took charge of a right-footed shot to which he gave a devilish effect. First, he leaned to Joan García's left, so he took a wrong step in that direction. Then, the leather was corrected to the other side and the goalkeeper had no time to react.
There will be those who think that the goalkeeper could have done more. It is an understandable point of view, but the author's success is indisputable. With this maneuver, he broke the dynamic of a match in which the general feeling was of equality, although, in terms of points, a certain advantage could be granted to the home team, especially at the moment in which the goal occurred. Before, very few arrivals had intimidated the goalkeepers.
Only Jasper Cillessen had to work before a low shot from Javi Puado that lacked bite. Espanyol had set out to disrupt Las Palmas' ball output and generated several turnovers that proved Manolo González right. The mirror bet was to combine Sandro's inventiveness with long balls for Fábio Silva to sprint, although he found himself trapped by the offside trap too much.
There were good situations for both boards. A notable performance by Álex Suárez and Scott McKenna It turned off that of the Catalans, who saw how the '4' did not allow Cheddira to comfortably control practically any ball that came his way. As soon as he managed it with his chest, he had his pair already attached to his back. The defense of the Unión Deportiva also presented a differential in injury time, when, at 1-0, the team allowed a shower of hanging centers by the 'parakeets'.
Fortunately for Diego Martínez, this happened already with the referee about to give the final whistle. After Sandro's goal, what happened was that his team focused on maintaining possession, slowing down their combinations and finishing as many plays as possible to avoid counterattacks. Whether this was due to tactical order or due to the players' own interpretation on the field, It was the best formula.
In fact, 2-0 could have come in some response of the Canarians when the Barcelona expedition came up with many troops and left space for their rearguard. Neither Fábio Silva nor Mika Mármol, who had opportunities to exploit it, achieved it due to the merit of their opponents when it came to retreating and continuing to oppose the draw. At the other end of the table, that traffic jam took place with merits for Suárez and McKenna.
Las Palmas coordinated well even anecdotally. Half an hour after the start, Darío Essugo found himself in the need to go to the bathroom. Jasper Cillessen, knowing that the referee is obliged to stop the match if a goalkeeper is not fit to play, sat down and appeared to suffer from physical discomfort. Dinko Horkas, his substitute, even warmed up to support his trick as the '29' went to the toilet. Amid protests from Javi Puado, who saw the yellow card, the group managed to ensure that the midfielder's absence did not matter.
If it had gone wrong, this episode would have outraged the stands, who, seeing the outcome of the game, are heading into the Christmas holidays with a smile from ear to ear. 4 dates in a row scoring for the island. The Spanishin contrast, will have to face the return after the holidays from chair 18 in the category, which is one of the three of descent. A draw would have been possible and had arguments, but Sandro's star made the difference.
