Villarreal win against Girona with a Gerard Moreno goal in stoppage time
Villarreal will be in Europe next season! The Submarine beat Girona with goals from Yeremy Pino, who put the Yellows ahead in the ninth minute, and Gerard Moreno, who broke the deadlock in the 93rd minute to give the Yellows the three points that certify their presence in the Europa League next season. Thus, with three games left in the competition, Villarreal will fight with Real Sociedad for the fourth place that gives access to the UEFA Champions League.
Villarreal came out of the blocks determined to get into the game and, as a result, they struck early on. In the ninth minute, Nico Jackson, after a great run, put the ball back to Yeremy Pino, who came in at the far post to push the ball in and put the Submarine ahead at Montilivi.
Girona did not give up and soon responded by creating danger on the goal defended by the Submarine’s captain today, Pepe Reina. Rodrigo Riquelme got the better of two men in yellow with a good move, and then fired in a shot that was kept out by the keeper with a formidable save.
However, just two minutes later, the Catalans equalised from a set piece. David López finished off a cut-back from Arnau to make it 1-1.
The Yellows did not give up and tried to get back in front on the scoreboard. They came close to doing so before the break, again through Yeremy Pino. The winger, inside the box, saw his attempts repelled by the Girona defence on two occasions, first with a right-footed shot and then with an overhead kick.
Girona and Villarreal were level at 1-1 at the end of the first half.
Villarreal’s first chance of the second half came from Étienne Capoue. The Frenchman hit a long-range shot just inside the post, but Gazzaniga was on hand to keep the ball out.
Villarreal wanted to get three points and Quique Setién introduced Gerard Moreno, Gio Lo Celso and Alberto Moreno to the Montilivi pitch in the 62nd minute of the game.
Girona tried through Riquelme, who again tested the reflexes of Pepe Reina from long range. Villarreal, for their part, waited for their moment and were able to counter-attack on several occasions looking for the speed of Yeremy and Nico Jackson, although without luck.
Villarreal kept trying. Manu Trigueros almost scored the goal of the day in stoppage time. The talaverano unleashed a spectacular left-footed shot from beyond the edge of the area that forced Gazzaniga to stretch as far as he could to keep out the shot.
At the very end Nico Jackson and Gerard Moreno unleashed madness at Montilivi on the stroke of full-time! Pepe Reina set up Nico Jackson with a spectacular run, who, after taking on his defender, got inside the area to put in a left-footed cross that Gerard Moreno finished off with the ball into the back of the net. Three magical and all-important points.
Lineups:
Girona: Gazzaniga; Arnau, S. Bueno, Juanpe RL, Miguel (min. 77, Javi Hernández); David López, Riquelme, Iván Martín, Tsygankov, Yan Couto; Castellanos (min. 59, Stuani).
Villarreal: Reina; Foyth (min. 68, Foyth), Mandi, J. Cuenca, A. Pedraza (min. 62, Alberto M.); Capoue, R. Terrats (min. 62, Lo Celso), Álex B.; Yeremy, Chukwueze (min. 62, Gerard), N. Jackson.
Goals: 0-1. Min. 9: Yeremy. 1-1. Min. 22: David López. 1-2. Min. 93: Gerard.
Referee: Pizarro Gómez. Booked: David López, Yangel Herrera (Girona); Yeremy (Villarreal CF).
Matchday information: Match between Girona and Villarreal, corresponding to Gameweek 35 of the 2022/23 LaLiga Santander season at Montilivi.
