Dani Parejo’s penalty in the last minute gives The Submarine the win
Madness at the Estadio de la Cerámica! Villarreal scored an epic late winner against Girona thanks to a penalty scored by Dani Parejo in the 101st minute.
Villarreal CF went into the game hungry for a goal. Only three minutes had been played when, from a free kick taken by Dani Parejo into the heart of the box, Gerard Moreno, today’s captain due to the absence of Raúl Albiol in the starting line-up, volleyed the ball over the crossbar.
Girona went on to try get their first goal of the game. Aleix García tried his luck from long range before the tenth minute of the game. His shot, however, failed to find the target.
The Submarine picked up the pace as the minutes went by and continued to create some dangerous chances. In the 12th minute of the game, Quique Setién’s side had a great double chance that almost became the first goal of the game. Firstly, Yeremy Pino hit the post from inside the box and the rebound was picked up by Álex Baena who, near the edge of the area, hit a great shot at Gazzaniga’s far post, forcing the Argentine to pull off a great save to keep out the youngster’s goal.
Before the break, Villarreal had another chance to take the lead. Mandi, today’s starter on the right side of the defence, made a diving run to meet Chukwueze’s cross, which was again blocked by the visitors’ goalkeeper.
Villarreal, despite playing a good first half, went in level at the break.
In the second half the script was similar to that of the first 45 minutes, as it was Villarreal who, through possession, tried to hurt their opponents. In the 64th minute, Pau Torres stole the ball high up the pitch and gave the ball to Chukwueze who, just as he prepared to shoot, saw a defender snatch the ball away from him.
Quique Setién moved to the bench and brought on Mbacke, who made his first-team debut in place of Jorge Cuenca, who had been concussed after taking a heavy blow to the face at the end of the first half.
The Submarine continued to look dangerous. Gerard Moreno, with a powerful shot from outside the box, put the visitors’ goalkeeper in serious trouble in the 73rd minute.
Girona were down a player in the 80th minute. Simón Bueno caught Álex Baena in the face when he was going into the box. The referee, Del Cerro Grande, gave a penalty first of all, but after checking with the VAR he indicated that the foul had taken place outside the Girona area.
In the final stretch of the game and with the desire to get the three points, Setién used up the changes, bringing on Trigueros, Morales, Diego Collado and Manu Morlanes.
In stoppage time Villarreal had an excellent chance to take the game after the referee pointed to the penalty spot when Oriol Romeu brought down Pau Torres in the six-yard box. Gerard Moreno missed it.
And just when it looked like the game was going to end in a draw, Pau Torres was again fouled inside the box. This time it was Dani Parejo who took the spot-kick and the player from Coslada made no mistake to give Villarreal CF three points.
Line-ups:
Villarreal CF: Reina; Mandi, Pau, J. Cuenca (min. 61, Mbacke), J. Mojica (min. 86, Alberto M.); Álex B., Parejo, Capoue (min. 80, M. Trigueros); Yeremy (min. 80, A. J. Morales), Chukwueze (min. 86, D. Collado), Gerard.
Girona CF: Gazzaniga; Arnau, S. Bueno, Bernardo, Miguel (min. 80, Juanpe); Romeu, Toni Villa (min. 74, Valery), Iván Martín (min. 63, Herrera), Aleix García (min. 74, Borja García), Riquelme; Stuani (min. 63, Castellanos).
Goal: 1-0. Min. 101: Parejo (p).
Referee: Del Cerro Grande. Booked: Gerard, Yeremy, Pau, Álex B., Alberto M. (Villarreal CF); Miguel, Stuani, Herrera, Juanpe (Girona CF). Sent off: S. Bueno (Girona CF).
Matchday information: Match between Villarreal CF and Girona CF, corresponding to Gameweek 18 of the 2022/23 LaLiga season, held at the Estadio de la Cerámica in front of 15,129 spectators.
