News
SÁB 24.06.2017
After having spent just one season down in the Spanish second tier, Getafe CF will next term be back in LaLiga Santander after mounting a stirring 3-1 comeback to overturn their 1-0 first-leg deficit, with Dani Pacheco bagging a brace to steal the headlines at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez. In the wake of this rollercoaster second-leg bout it's the side from the outskirts of Madrid that ultimately prevailed to take the coveted prize after a thrilling tie which remained in the balance right up until the very last.
This crunch clash got off to a rip-roaring start, and after CD Tenerife had enjoyed a brief spell of early dominance, Los Azulones began to boss possession as they went on to carve out a number of chances. One of the hosts' first attacking forays saw them get their noses in front on the night to level the tie on aggregate. Alejandro Faurlin was quickest to react as the ball fell loose following a corner and he fired home to put Getafe into the ascendancy. Just minutes later things got even better for Jose Bordalas's men, who doubled their advantage after a period of concerted pressure on the visitors' goal. The home faithful were sent into raptures when Pacheco met Chuli's cut-back on the edge of the area and found the bottom corner with real aplomb to put the hosts two goals to the good.
Despite having been breached twice in the opening stages, one goal was all that Pep Marti's charges required to put themselves back in command of this tie, and within just four minutes the visitors were once again in pole position. Gaku Shibasaki found himself in space down the left and the Japanese international's inviting centre was met by Choco Lozano, who slid in to reignite the islanders' promotion dream.
The intensity levels waned slightly in the ensuing minutes, but Getafe's desire to pour forward meant that it was the home side who looked the likeliest to get the next goal and they duly struck a third before the interval to put themselves back in the driving seat in this topsy-turvy tussle for promotion. Just minutes before the break, Pacheco was on hand to make it 3-1 on the night after Dani Hernandez had parried Jorge Molina's close-range effort.
The nerves and tension surrounding this delicately poised showpiece came to the fore in a second period in which neither side sought to be overly adventurous. At this stage, a Tenerife goal would turn the tie on its head once again, whilst if Getafe were to add to their lead it would all but put the contest beyond the islanders' reach. Amath had a golden opportunity to have secured promotion for Marti's troops with just five minutes remaining but he failed to find the net with an overhead effort. Getafe ultimately weathered the storm and saw the game out to seal their return to LaLiga Santander at the first time of asking.
© LALIGA - 2017