Rayo Vallecano and Mallorca share the points after late drama
Colombia’s Radamel Falcao converted a penalty in the 102nd minute to salvage a point for Rayo Vallecano as extra time drifted toward its close. Mallorca had looked set to claim all three, but the hosts rallied and the keeper kept their hopes alive until the very end, with Falcao delivering the decisive moment in a dramatic encounter that swung on one final mistake and a composed finish from the spot.
With the stadium crowd still finding its rhythm and late-arriving supporters settling into their seats, Rayo took the initiative early. Álvaro García carved out space down the left, delivering a precise low cross that found its way past Predrag Rajkovic after just three minutes as Sergio Camello wriggled free with a quick half-turn to create a threat near goal.
Rayo settled into their preferred tempo, dictating play and pressing Mallorca high up the pitch. Unai López and Pathé Ciss were adjusting to the pace of the match, while Mallorca had to adapt after losing Jaume Costa to injury around the twelfth minute, replaced by Toni Lato. The home side’s confidence grew as they pressed, finding a danger signal when López’s free kick curved onto the crossbar from the right corner, signaling to Mallorca that a second goal was coming if they couldn’t tighten the gaps at the back.
Moments of attacking intent continued to build on the Rayo side while Mallorca faced the challenge of maintaining shape under pressure. The action sharpened in the final third as the tempo increased and chances opened, with both teams trading moments of quality and nervy defending as the clock ticked away in the first half.
On the sidelines, the duel appeared to intensify with each passing minute, and the ball spent extended periods in the middle third as both sides searched for a breakthrough before the break. The atmosphere grew tense with each near-miss and each hopeful buildup that failed to find its target in the crowded penalty area.
––––
Álvaro García’s pace and direct running continued to pull at Mallorca’s rearguard, leaving a wake of exhausted defenders behind. A flurry of near-misses and quick exchanges culminated in Muriqi becoming the focal point of Mallorca’s attack, a role he embraced with increasing intent as the half advanced. The Kosovo forward found a moment of reward just before the interval, steering a header past the goalkeeper after a set-piece sequence, although the scorer’s position sparked debate as the ball seemed to brush the line before being deemed in or out by the officials. The decision after a brief discussion left Mallorca celebrating the late lead as the halftime whistle blew.
That goal injected another layer of urgency into Mallorca’s approach after the break, and they emerged with more momentum, pressing high and moving the ball with sharper intent. Rayo faced a test of character, trying to respond while keeping their shape under Mallorca’s renewed pressure. Sergi Darder’s wonderwork—driving through the lines—illustrated Mallorca’s willingness to take risks, and Antonio Sánchez capitalized with a low effort that slipped through, putting Mallorca ahead and forcing Rayo to chase an equalizer.
Rayo’s coach Francisco Rodríguez acted decisively, reshaping the arrangement and trying to press for a result with the full squad. Aridane Hernández left the field as the match shifted toward its late stage, while Pacha Espino and Falcao were kept in the frame as potential game-changers. Isi Palazón delivered a dangerous cross that narrowly escaped contact, while Florian Lejeune’s speculative shot tested Rajković, who saved and redirected the ball to safety, underscoring the fine margins that had decided the match so far.
As the minutes wore on and Rayo chased an elusive equalizer, the urgency rose. The visitors gambled on a late surge and pushed more bodies forward, leaving gaps at the back that could be exploited by Mallorca on counter-attacks. Yet time began to slip away, and the referee awarded a penalty after Gio González appeared to handle near the edge of the area, a moment that would decide whether the match would end in victory for Mallorca or a late rescue for Rayo.
Falcao stepped up and converted the routine from 11 meters, a strike that Rajković initially parried before the spot kick was ordered to be retaken. The Colombian did not miss on the second attempt, sending the ball into the net with conviction and prompting a sea of relieved faces in Rayo’s dugout and among the squad as the stadium erupted in celebration. Mallorca, stunned by the late turnaround, watched as their hopes faded and their opponents celebrated a point earned in the final minutes of stoppage time. The late drama rewrote the narrative, leaving both sides with something to take forward into the rest of the campaign.
In the aftermath, the reaction from the stands showed a mix of relief for Rayo Vallecano and disappointment for Mallorca, a reminder that football’s beauty often lies in the unpredictable twists that define its most memorable matches. The result reflected a contest that was balanced in the opposition’s intent and the home side’s resilience, with Falcao’s late penalty sealing a draw that felt like a victory in the moment for the home team and a hard-fought point for Mallorca that keeps them competitive in the table.
— Football on Movistar Plus+
Falcao’s successful finish from the spot ultimately changed the course of the game, turning what could have been a Mallorca win into a share of the spoils for Rayo Vallecano, as the crowd celebrated a memorable finish and a point earned under pressure against a determined opponent.