RCD Mallorca have lost 1-0 a game at the Vallecas Stadium, in a game with lots of blunders from either side and a game in which Vazquez boys had better chances than the home side but failed to convert them. And converting is what the local side managed in one of the few occasion they had.
The game started with the local side very focused and with lots of strength from the start. In fact, barely three minutes into the game, there were too arrivals onto Santamaria's goal without much danger though. Their domination lasted little as Vazquez men reclaimed the ball as time went by.
In the 6th minute came the first chance for the Reds when Oscar Diaz from a long-ranger did try and the deflection was not reached by Moutinho by inches. In the 8th minute, the forward did not connect with the ball in a ball clearance from the whites' goalkeeper.
With the game still level, with a very intensive midfield activity, RCDM gave a greater impression of dangers because the Reds came up to the rival's goal very frequently. Juan Dominguez headed wide a corner and namesake Juan Rodriguez in the 20th minute did not make any profit of a defensive error that left him one-to-one facing Toño, who reacted well and blocked.
Locals had their chances and in a bad back pass by Yuste to Santamaria, Ebert came by and headed wide too. From the 30th to the 45th minutes precision was absent in the stadium. Only Guerra from Rayo in the 35th minute headed well down a corner but Santamaria saved. Campabadal from the Reds in the 40th, from a difficult angel shot too wide to the side of the goal.
The second half started like the first with Rayo pushing up, especially down the left wing, and Mallorca holding back. The best chance came in those minutes, however, it was for the Reds when Yuste had it in a corner, anticipating to his marker and the ball went off kissing the post.
Mallorca established themselves in the pitch, it was a box-to-box game lacking difinition. The landscape changed in the 70th minute when a good teamplay by Trashorras ends in Alex Moreno's boots about the penalty spot. The former Mallorca football did not miss and put the local side ahead.
The Reds then stepped forward and Sandoval men stepped back, keeping lines together, trying to use the counters after possessions. In the 78th minute, Lago Junior had the best chance for the visitors when a defensive error allowed him a one-to-one chance in front of Toño, but the same Toño using his feet intercepts it. The Majorcan were trying and trying but found a wall of defenders up until the referee decided to call it a day.
