Randy Nteka came off the bench to score two goals in three minutes that cancelled out Bryan Gil’s opener and gave Rayo Vallecano a last-gasp 2-1 win over Girona in LaLiga on Sunday.
Following a slow first half, the game came alive when former Tottenham forward Gil’s header put visitors Girona ahead in the 58th minute.
Roared on by a sold-out crowd at Vallecas, Rayo went all out on the attack and scored the equaliser following a spell of pressure in the 80th minute when substitute Nteka fired home a rebound.
Nteka was on target again three minutes later to strike a first-touch effort from inside the box that gave the home side the win, with both goals assisted by Alvaro Garcia.
Rayo rose to seventh in the LaLiga standings on 29 points, one below sixth-placed Mallorca and the European qualification places. Girona are ninth with 28 points.
FT: #RayoGirona 2-1.@RayoVallecano edge it in a closely-fought contest at the Vallecas Stadium! #LALIGAEASPORTS pic.twitter.com/Ks2hmQQlDb
— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) January 26, 2025
Data Debrief: Rayo end winless run against Girona and Michel
Rayo seemed set to see their six-game unbeaten run in the competition ended, until the late heroics from substitute Nteka.
The dramatic turnaround saw Rayo beat Girona for the first time in LaLiga, ending a seven-game winless streak against the visitors.
Visiting boss Michel had also not lost any of his previous six matches in all competitions against Rayo (W3 D3), though Nteka’s first goals since early December proved decisive in ending that streak.
The hosts will feel it was a much-deserved win as well, having accumulated 2.32 expected goals (xG) to Girona’s meagre 1.12, which was boosted by a flurry of late efforts.
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