Luka Romero became our youngest-ever goalscorer in a thrilling 4-0 victory over UD Logroñés which also saw Salva Sevilla, Amath Ndiaye and Abdón Prats hit the target as our unbeaten run rolls onto 14 games.
Luis García Plaza made seven changes to the side which won 2-1 at FC Cartagena midweek, introducing Fran Gámez, Braian Cufre, Salva Sevilla, Antonio Sánchez, Íñigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Jordi Mboula, and Ndiaye in place of Joan Sastre, Brian Oliván, Iddrisu Baba, Aleix Febas, Lago Junior, Murilo and Alex Alegría respectively.
The opening exchanges were not lacking in drama as we awarded an indirect free-kick inside the box after Roberto Santamaría collected a back pass inside the second minute. With the visiting defence lined up on the goal line, Andoni López then received a straight red card for handling the ball in attempt to keep the free-kick going in.
Dani Rodríguez assumed responsibility for the resulting penalty, but having been denied by Santamaría, the VAR replay revealed defenders had entered the box before the ball had been struck and a retake was awarded. Santamaría guessed right again by getting down well, but it was third time lucky as Salva Sevilla reacted first and fired home on the follow up in the eight minute.
A goal ahead and with a man advantage against a side who had not conceded for five matches prior to Matchday 15, we smelt blood as Antonio Sánchez and Ruiz de Galarreta came close to doubling our lead before Dani Rodríguez looked to atone for his earlier miss by testing the visiting shot stopper inside the box.
Ndiaye’s runs in behind were a constant threat to Sergio Rodríguez Martínez’s side and they were almost punished for giving the forward an inch of space as Santamaría was called into action to acrobatically deny the loanee.
It took until the half-hour mark before the visitors were able to trouble Manolo Reina, but Unai Medina’s strike proved to be nothing more than a routine stop for our capitan.
In the ascendancy, Ruiz de Galarreta rattled the crossbar with a curling effort from 25-yards out with five minutes left on the clock as UD Logroñés valiantly attempted to weather an onslaught of attacks.
We would crown a fine first-half performance with a second goal as Ndiaye got a decisive touch on Dani Rodríguez’s corner amongst a crowd of bodies three minutes before heading into the dressing room.
Our momentum wasn’t interrupted by the break as Ruiz de Galarreta was a matter of inches away from hitting the target having found space via a clever free-kick routine on the edge of the box, before Mboula cut inside and forced substitute Yaroslav Meykher into a smart save.
Substitute Abdón Prats cued pandemonium when he found the back of the net for the first time since his play-off final heroics over a year ago with a thundering volley from close range following tenacious work from Fran Gámez to win the ball back and send a teasing cross into the box in the 69th minute.
It was also a night to remember for Luka Romero as the teenager became our youngest goalscorer at 16 years and 11 days of age with his first senior strike courtesy of a clever turn and thumping effort into the bottom corner five minutes from full time.
There would be no dramatic comeback for UD Logroñés as our highest-scoring game of the season so far ended at 4-0, although celebrations will be short lived as we now prepare for a trip to Almería.
RCD Mallorca: Manolo Reina, Gámez, A. Raíllo, Valjent, Cufré, Ruiz De Galarreta (71’), Salva Sevilla, Dani Rodríguez (71’), Mboula (81’), Antonio Sánchez (63’), Amath (63’)
Substitutes: Miquel Parera, Russo, Joan Sastre, B.Oliván, Febas (71’), Álex Alegría, Abdón (63’), Murilo (63’), Lago Junior (81’), Baba, Sedlar, Luka Romero (71’)
UD Logroñés: Santamaría (56’), Medina, Gorka, Bobadilla, Arnedo (60’), A.Vitoria (75’), Rubén M (75’), Bogusz (60’), O.Siddiki, Andoni López, J.Sierra
Substitutes: Yari (56’), Van La Parra (75’), Ruiz, Errasti, Clemente, Iñaki (60’), Andy, Iago Lopez, D.Petcoff (60’), David Glez (75’), Alex Perez, M.Lapeña
Goals: Salva Sevilla, 1-0 (8’); Amath, 2-0 (40’); Abdón, 3-0 (69’); Luka, 4-0 (86’)
