A Girona goal in added time leaves Villarreal without a deserved win at the Estadio de la Cerámica
Villarreal deserved a win, but had to settle for a draw against Girona (2-2). The Yellows were better than their opponents and went 2-0 ahead at the start of the second half, but injuries and tiredness ended up having an effect and the Catalan side capitalised to take a point from the Estadio de la Cerámica with a goal in added time.
After a deserved draw – fighting from two goals down – in Pamplona (2-2), the Submarine returned to the Estadio de la Cerámica to host a Girona side who were in form. It was set to be a great clash between two teams set to fight to be in Europe next season.
The Catalan side looked dangerous with a Bryan Gil effort in the opening minutes. The winger’s shot was saved by Diego Conde with a fantastic hand at full stretch. In the opening minutes, the Submarine showed their danger quickly, with Logan Costa going close to putting the Yellows ahead with a header at the back post from an Álex Baena corner.
After this chance, Villarreal went close twice more quickly. Álex Baena’s effort from the edge of the box which was off target, and then Santi Comesaña coming in from deep’s powerful effort was over the bar.
As the game went on, Marcelino’s men started to look more comfortable with the ball. Halfway through the first half, La Cerámica celebrated the goal that made it 1-0. Thierno Barry fired home the rebound after Yeremy Pino’s effort hit the post, after a great cross from Baena from the left.
In the closing stages of the second half, Conde stepped up once more to stop Girona from equalising. The goalkeeper kept out a Miguel Gutiérrez effort from inside the box just before the break.
The second half started with a great Baena goal. The midfielder, who got on the end of a good Yeremy pass, escaped his marker, and after flying past another defender, beat Gazzaniga with a powerful near-post effort. 2-0 at La Cerámica.
Before the hour mark, Girona had made three changes, looking to freshen up their attack, and get a goal that would put them back in the tie. It came in the 66th minute, with Van de Beek making it 2-1 after pinball in the Groguets’ box.
The closing stages were stressful for the home fans. Girona were throwing everything at it as they tried to level the tie, while the Yellows started to look leggy. Dani Parejo and Yeremy Pino had to leave the pitch with knocks, and Marcelino’s team noted the physical effort. With the amount of players missing, the head coach barely had enough players to make the necessary substitutions.
The Catalan side dominated the last stages of the game, but Denis Suárez could have killed the match off, when he went one-on-one with Gazzaniga, but was denied by Girona’s Argentinean goalkeeper.
The Yellows’ third goal didn’t come, and Girona went close to equalising straight after. Stuani had the ball in the back of the next just two minutes before added time. After a long VAR review, it was determined that he was offside.
However, in added time, they did draw level with a Krejci volley from the edge of the box. All square at La Cerámica, leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of the Yellows.
