Iago Aspas’ 97th minute penalty saw us fall to a frustrating 4-3 defeat against Celta Vigo at the Estadio Abanca Balaídos
Luis García Plaza made a handful of changes to the side which lost 2-0 to Real Sociedad earlier in the week. Iddrisu Baba returned to the starting XI following his recovery from injury, while new signing Gio Gonzalez was also handed his first league start.
We didn’t get off to the best off starts as Thiago Galhardo gave the hosts the lead in the 13th minute when he capitalised on a loose ball in the box after Franco Cervi had hit the bar.
We would not be behind for long as Giovanni Gonzalez provided an instant response just three minutes when he ghosted in at the back post to convert Jaume Costa’s driven cross.
Celta Vigo got themselves back in front eight minutes later when Denis Suárez’s close-range strike was awarded after a lengthy VAR review for a possible offside.
We pushed for the remainder of the first half to draw level, but would ultimately head into the break a goal behind.
The reward for our offensive approach would come three minutes after the restart as Joseph Aidoo flicked Antonio Raillo’s header past his own goalkeeper to level the scoreline.
Aspas restored Celta Vigo’s lead just after the hour mark when he volleyed Cervi’s cut back past the outstretched Sergio Rico.
A game full of chances for both sides would not end without some late drama as we were awarded a penalty in the 84th minute when Hugo Mallo was adjudged to have handled the ball.
Salva Sevilla made no mistake from the spot to equalise in the 87th minute.
We would ultimately leave Vigo empty handed as Martin Valjent was ruled to have handled in the area in injury time. Aspas converted the resulting penalty in the 97th minute to condemn us to defeat.
Celta de Vigo: Dituro, Hugo Mallo, Aidoo, Nestor, Javi Galán, Fran Beltrán, Brais Méndez, Cervi, Denis Suárez, Thiago, Iago Aspas.
Substitutes: Tapia por Thiago (62'), Santi Mina por F.Beltrán (62'), Solari por Cervi (73')
RCD Mallorca: Sergio Rico, Maffeo, Valjent, Raíllo, Jaume Costa, Baba, Antonio Sánchez, Dani Rodríguez, Gio González, Take, Muriqi.
Substitutes: Angel por Gio (66'); Salva por Baba (66'); Kang In por Take (66'); Battaglia por Antonio Sánchez (78'); Fer Niño por D.Rodríguez (78')
Goals: Thiago, 1-0 (12'); Gio, 1-1 (16'); Denis Suárez, 2-1 (24'); Aidoo (p.p), 2-2 (48'); Iago Aspas, 3-2 (60); Salva Sevilla, 3-3 (87'); Iago Aspas, 4-3 (96')
