Patrick Ebert the key as Valladolid beat Mallorca

A superb performance from Patrick Ebert was the difference between Real Valladolid and Real Mallorca as a late show saw the home side take all three points in the Estadio José Zorrilla. But Los Bermellones will have been scratching their heads as to how they came away from this game with nothing, as two controversial decisions by referee Hernández Hernández cost Mallorca the game.

It isn’t the first game in which Alejandro José Hernández Hernández has cost Real Mallorca points this season. In the only other Mallorca game he has officiated this season, he sent off Emilio Nsue and controversially handed Granada a penalty despite Torje clearly being challenged outside of the area. Assistant head coach Luci Martín was then suspended for one game following his reaction to the referee’s performance.

Mallorca suffered an early blow when Javi Márquez failed to recover from a bruised ankle he picked up in training on Wednesday. Veteran midfielder Pep Martí came in to replace him. Caparrós also handed a debut to versatile left sided player Antonio Luna on the left wing. Víctor Casadesús, returning from suspension, was preferred in the lone strikers role ahead of Tomer Hemed. The Israeli hasn’t scored since the 18th November when his 21st minute goal earned Mallorca a point in Vigo, ending a run of six straight defeats.

It didn’t take long for Hernández Hernández to cause controversy. After Giovani dos Santos stole possession and sprinted to the byline, he managed to pull the ball back across goal. Víctor Casadesús was arriving in the six yard box but was bundled over by the defender. Despite clearly being fouled, the referee failed to give a penalty kick, much to the dismay of the island side. And it proved to be costly.

With 21 minutes on the clock, Patrick Ebert came forward for Valladolid before unleashing a scorching strike which gave Dudu Aouate no chance. And out of nothing, Mallorca were behind and with it all to do once more.

It was an open, free-flowing game. Both sides looked comfortable in possession and comfortable in attack, but it was Valladolid who looked more dangerous. But almost against the run of play, Mallorca equalised. Arizmendi broke down the right wing and his cross saw Víctor Casadesús again arriving in the six yard box. This time his diving header connected with the ball to put Mallorca back on level terms 7 minutes before the end of the half.

Into the second half, Mallorca must’ve realised it wasn’t going to be their day when Hernández Hernández missed a clear hand ball by a Valladolid defender. And with just three minutes to go, Valladolid completed their smash and grab.

As the home side came forward, captain José Nunes stepped out of defence to try and win back possession. He failed, however, and a ball from deep from Ebert saw Óscar beat Geromel at the penalty spot to turn the ball past Aouate. He punched the ground in delight knowing he had won the game. But the story didn’t end there.

Mallorca, astonished to find themselves behind, piled forward in search of an equaliser. And when the ball ran across the face of goal for Emilio Nsue at the back post, the Mallorquinista thought he had found that equaliser in injury time. But Nsue turned to see the linesman with his flag in the air. The right back’s goal was ruled out, correctly, for offside.

Valladolid then killed the game. After winning a free-kick on the edge of the area, Patrick Ebert topped off his man of the match performance with another terrific strike to make it 3-1. Caparrós was visibility in disbelief, along with his team. After a good performance, they had found themselves on the end of another defeat.

Teams

Real Valladolid (4-2-3-1): Dani Hernández; Rukavina, Sereno , Valiente, Balenziaga; Álvaro Rubio, Lluis Sastre ; Ebert, Óscar (Baraja 90′), Omar (Bueno 61′); Dani Larsson (Guerra 79′).
Substitutes: Jaime (gk); Rubén Peña, Peña; Baraja; Guerra, Brueno, Lolo.
Goals: Ebert 21′, 90′; Óscar 87′.

Real Mallorca (4-2-3-1): Aouate; Nsue, Nunes, Geromel (Hemed 88′), Bigas ; Pina, Martí (Fontàs 85′); Arizmendi, Giovani , Luna (Pereira 55′); Víctor.
Substitutes: Calatayud (gk); Kevin, Fontàs; Alfaro, Pereira; Hemed, Brandon.

Referee: Alejandro José Hernández Hernández (ESP)
Stadium: Estadio José Zorrilla, Valladolid
Attendance: 12,949

Goals