Amath Ndiaye scored a dramatic 92nd minute winner as we overcame Girona FC 1-0 to secure our first win at the Visit Mallorca Estadi this year.
Luis García Plaza made one changes to his side following Matchday 22’s 3-1 victory at Rayo Vallecano. Joan Sastre returned from injury to replace the sidelined Fran Gámez at right back, while Marc Cardona was among the substitutes for the first time this year following his recovery from COVID-19.
Hitting the ground running against a visiting side unbeaten in their last three games, we were unable to take advantage of a handful of early chances as first Amath Ndiaye fired high and wide from the edge of the box before Salva Sevilla forced Juan Carlos into a straightforward save.
Despite having over 60% of possession during the opening 20 minutes, Los Blanquivermells thought they had taken the lead against the run of play through Pablo Moreno although there was no VAR required to rule for offside.
Fewer chances for both sides did little to drop the intensity of a first half which ended with Joan Sastre coming closest to breaking the deadlock with a worked volley from a set piece and a tame effort from Brian Oliván comfortably saved by Juan Carlos.
Manolo Reina had to be at his best to deny Manchu minutes after the restart, before ?? fired over the bar from a dangerously-placed free-kick as the visitors started the second period the stronger side.
We were forced to wait until past the hour mark for our first sniff at goal as some clever footwork from Antonio Sánchez required Juan Carlos to get down well and tip wide.
Girona’s defensive shape continued to frustrate, and despite an array of offensive substitutions in Lago Junior, Jordi Mboula and Cardona, time began to ebb away as we entered the latter stages of the fixture.
Reina managed to keep our hopes of snatching a late winner alive when he produced an unorthodox save with his shoulder to deny Mamadou Sylla in the 85th minute.
With the game looking to be heading for a draw, Dani Rodríguez picked up the ball from the left-hand side, ghosted past three markers and slipped Ndiaye through on goal who held his composure to finish well.
The final whistle moments later cued a combination of euphoria and relief in the dugout, although attention will quickly turn to a trip to Albacete in six days’ time.
RCD Mallorca: Manolo Reina, Sastre, Raíllo, Valjent, Oliván, Ruiz de Galarreta, Salva Sevilla (77’), Dani Rodríguez, Amath, Antonio Sánchez (70’), Abdón (77’)
Substitutes: Parera, Cufré, Russo, Febas (77’), Gayà, Murilo, Trajkovski, Mboula (70’), Marc Cardona (77’), Luka Romero, Ibra, Lago Junior
Girona FC: Juan Carlos, Bernardo, Stuani, Cristóforo, Samu Sainz (87’), Aday, Monchu, Calavera, Sylla, Moreno (64’), Bueno
Substitutes: Muric, Franquesa, Ramalho, Bustos (87’), Couto, Barcenas (64’), Gumbau, Kebe
Goals: Amath, 1-0 (90’)
