SD Huesca lacked of the accuracy UD Las Palmas enjoyed, as the Oscenses could have left Gran Canarias way more than empty handed. However, a goal from a set-piece, following a corner, stabbed Cuco Ziganda’s men’s aspirations to death, reducing to nothing their strong start to the game. Had they found the opener, it may have changed the course of the encounter, which ended the worst possible way for them.
Ziganda made three changes from Sunday’s match aiming at stopping a powerful attacking performance of UD Las Palmas. Huesca went to a five-man defence, with Villarrasa on the wing, Timor partnering with Cristian at centre-back and Kanté up top. And the striker took just two minutes to call Álvaro Vallés into action. This would be the first of the three great chances the Frenchman enjoyed in the early stages, as only five minutes later he robbed to face the goal in an ambitious attempt from a tight angle. Third time was lucky, as this one the ball finally crossed the line. He simply tapped in after a neat play and cross from the wing by Joaquín, who was absolutely brilliant on the ball in the opening minutes, evaded the defenders. The Azulgranas did not give up after the offside flag went up shortly after, and Joaquín would who cleverly find Vilarrasa unmarked with a lofted through pass. Our no.6 failed to trouble Vallés however, firing his effort wide of the mark. Chances were aplenty, but as Huesca were unable to open the scoring, UD Las Palmas woke up little by little. Andrés stepped up to wonderfully deny the hosts, and Viera backheeled only to hit the post after 39 minutes.
SD Huesca began the brighter of the pair again, trying to find Kanté by means of weighted crosses, but their plan would fly through the air, as only after three minutes an unfortunate corner deflected by Florian Miguel would put the hosts ahead. Ziganda sent on Gerard Valentín, Dani Escriche and Kento to try and add a few different elements to Huesca’s box of attacking tricks, but Las Palmas side were really comfortable with that new situation and relied on a decisive counter-attack to kill the visitors off. Carrillo, who had replaced Florian, robbed on the edge of the area but could not combine with any teammate. There was still time for the Altoaragoneses to fight, but they were not patient enough to find a last pass to make it. And even though Andrés left his goal alone in a corner for his side, the 1-0 was a reality after the final whistle.
