Super-sub Stuani rescues a dramatic draw for relegation-battling Girona at Rayo Vallecano
Following their qualification for an inaugural European final last week, Rayos confidence soared as high as the bright skies above the Spanish capital, and Inigo Perezs team fully capitalised on that surge by aiming to intensify the strain on their visitors who were desperate to evade relegation.
Even with no involvement expected in the upcoming UEFA Conference League final versus Crystal Palace this month, Fran Perez was keen to influence the game, establishing himself as the homesides prominent forward in the initial 15 minutes at Estadio de Vallecas.
The momentum carried on over the subsequent quarter hour, with a notably energised Perez shooting just wide of the mark, followed by a hazardous cross from the Spaniard that reached Sergio Camellos head, yet his compatriot barely failed to strike true with the header.
Even so, Girona nearly shattered the impasse via their debut scoring chance, as Viktor Tsygankov blasted the ball into Augusto Batallas grasp around the 38th minute.
Camellos attempt in the 45th minute still managed to draw an impressive one handed stop from Paulo Gazzaniga, ensuring the scores remained level at the interval.
After shipping a league leading 14 goals in the opening 15 minutes of second halves this campaign, Girona chose aggression as their foremost defensive tactic.
That approach did not yield immediate success, however, since Tsygankov lifted a volley into the terraces when he ought to have at least found the goal frame.
Still, Michels strategy for his squad seemed flawlessly executed when official Guillermo Cuadra Fernández signalled a penalty in the 56th minute, deeming Pathé Ciss to have controlled Alex Morenos pass with his arm.
Regrettably, Moreno along with the away team were left incensed, as the referee rescinded the call upon reviewing the pitchside screen.
Time passed before Rayo mounted another assault in the 76th minute, where Florian Lejeunes forceful free kick was deftly blocked by Gazzaniga at his upright.
Yet, the ex Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper proved helpless against the homesides eventual first goal in the 86th minute, with Alemao extending a foot to deftly redirect his colleagues effort past him into the net. In truth, it boiled down to the impact of replacements, since Cristhian Stuani rose to nod in Tsygankovs supply mere minutes later, igniting frenzy among the visiting staff.
The tardy leveller from Girona stopped Rayo from surpassing Real Sociedad for the UEFA Europa League berth, albeit triumph in the UEFA Conference League decider over Crystal Palace would nullify outcomes from their leftover domestic fixtures.
On the other hand, Gironas three year stint in LaLiga teeters precariously, the Blanquivermells positioned merely two points from danger ahead of their final 180 minutes in the division.