Las Palmas 3 - Osasuna 2

Las Palmas: Nacho González; Edu Alonso, Alvaro, Schurrer, Paqui, Moreno (Ramón 66'); Jorge (Pablo Lago 75'), Samways, Josico; Guayre (Eloy 63'), Orlando. 5-3-2.
Osasuna: Nuno; Yanguas, Aitor Ocio (Angel Luis 70'), Cruchaga, Mateo, Iban Pérez; Oscar Arpón (Alfonso 53'), Angel, Alfredo; Sabino (Trzeciak 53''), Iván Rosado. 5-3-2.

Team changes: Las Palmas: Schurrer, Paqui, Moreno for Olías, Jaime Molina, Angel / Osasuna: Alfredo, Sabino for Lekumberri, Armentano.

Goals:
1-0. 23. Guayre. Took pass from left and shot into corner of net from edge of area.
1-1. 79. Iván Rosado (penalty). After Samways fouled Iván Rosado.
2-1. 82. Pablo Lago. Header three metres out after long centre from left.
2-2. 83. Cruchaga. Glancing header down past keeper from Angel's free kick.
3-2. 92. Paqui. From close up after cross from right rebounded off defender.

A last minute goal by Paqui in a thrilling last fifteen minutes gave Las Palmas all three points in this clash between two newly promoted teams. Las Palmas had taken the lead in the first half through their new young star Guayre, whose speed and ability caused numerous problems for the normally solid Osasuna defence. Having already left his calling card a couple of times, he took a pass from new boy Moreno on the left to crash a shot past Nuno into the bottom corner of the net. It was the only difference between the two teams as the five-man defences took control, with Paqui and Schurrer back from suspension at the heart of the Las Palmas rearguard.

Osasuna gradually made inroads, with a double substitution by Lotino shortly after half time and another later on adding fresh legs, and Trzeciak headed wide with the goal at his mercy. Sergio Kresic brought on Eloy, now recovered from his injury, for the tired Guayre, and also used up his changes with a quarter of an hour to go. Then a foul by Vinny Samways on Iván Rosado in the penalty area allowed Rosado to peg back the scores. Las Palmas bounced back, and three minutes later Pablo Lago put them back in front with a header down past Nuno, but almost straight from the restart Angel floated a free kick into the penalty area, and Cruchaga sneaked in to steer the ball low into the net.

The 15,000 crowd were on their feet urging their side on, and in a last gasp attack the ball bobbed around the penalty area before Paqui thundered it past the keeper from close range. Las Palmas had won a vital match against a team who in theory could be a rival in the relegation stakes this year, although right now the Canary Island team are riding high in eleventh place in the league. Osasuna have to go back to the drawing board as they slip back down to nineteenth, and Lotina is expected to reinforce the side in the next few weeks. What he really needs though is a good striker, with none of his four options doing well enough to hold down a regular place, but good centre forwards are expensive and hard to come by. If not, then he has to find a Guayre out of his youth squad. But then those are an even rarer species these days.