An Ante Budimir brace was unable inspire a late comeback as RCD Mallorca suffered a 4-2 defeat to Getafe CF at Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.
A frenetic start was played at an end-to-end tempo, and with both sides creating chances, Dani Rodríguez’s blocked effort following Lago Junior’s pullback was arguably the best of the bunch.
However, it was Getafe CF made the flurry of opening opportunities pay on the seventh minute when Iddrissu Baba’s mistimed clearance at a corner crept past Manolo Reina’s near post.
Things went from bad to worse for Los Bermellones as Vicente Moreno was forced into introducing Lumor Agbenyenu and Take Kubo following knocks to first Baba Rahman and then Salva Sevilla.
A frustrating first half would come to end with the hosts ahead by two goals courtesy of a Jorge Molina penalty after Joan Sastre was adjudged to have pulled down Jaime Mata in the area just past the half-hour mark.
Allan Nyom added a third on the 63rd minute with a powerful effort inside the box at the second time of asking as RCD Mallorca struggled to clear a loose ball from a corner.
Budimir pulled one back with a well-placed header from Take Kubo’s whipped cross, before the Croatian’s skilful flick at the near post set up a tense final 15 minutes.
Any hope of a late equaliser was ended when, against the run of play as RCD Mallorca threw everything forward, substitute Ángel Rodríguez found the bottom corner and consigned RCD Mallorca to defeat.
RCD Mallorca: Reina, Baba Rahman (19’), Xisco Campos, Valjent, Sastre, Febas, Baba, Salva Sevilla (19’), Dani Rodríguez (71’), Lago Junior, Budimir
Substitutes: Fabricio, Lumor Agbenyenu (19’), Señé, Pedraza, Trajkovski, Kubo (19’), Alegría (71’)
Goals: 1-0, Iddrissu Baba (OG), 7’. 2-0, Jorge Molina, 33’. 3-0, Allan Nyom, 63’. 3-1, Ante Budimir, 70’. 3-2, Ante Budimir, 77’. 4-2, Ángel Rodríguez, 84’.
