It was time to react. The apology notebook had been running out for days and winning had become an obligation. Consolidate in the area of play-off it meant overcoming Numancia yesterday both yes and no so as not to see endanger the only route, in principle, that can now lead the team to the goal. And Girona did not fail. A goal by Samu Sáiz just starting and another by Stuani in the last minute of the first half left given and blessed a game without much history in which the quality of Girona prevailed in the depression of a Numancia long ago bad pint. It was not a festival or any exhibition of the people of Girona who simply did what they had not done against Racing, that is, cover the file. Three points that serve to stop the leak, dispel doubts around Martí and, above all, to inject confidence and morale into a block that seemed to have lost it since the competition resumed. Direct ascent was a utopia and continues to be so. Impossible? In football, nothing is impossible and surely someone still trusts him, but Girona will do well, as he showed yesterday, to go to work and ensure first and foremost the play-off.
Despite the correct second half of last Friday’s match at the Elche stadium, the sensations had not been good at all since the resumption of the competition after the confinement. Two draws to nothing against Las Palmas and Racing and the defeat at Elche and, worst of all, no goals in favor, had substantially lowered the team’s soufflé with the highest budget in the category. Martí had admitted on Tuesday that both he and the dressing room were “angry” at this disappointing start and that he was confident of transforming this anger and helplessness into “energy” to win. This energy of which Martí spoke at once bore fruit. Barely had two minutes of the game when Samu Sáiz picked up a header from Stuani to beat Dani Barrio with a precise and cross shot.
“Look how easy it is to score a goal”, many Girona fans must have thought from home. The 1-0 gave a very welcome reassurance to a Girona that with the score in favor could take advantage of the spaces that Numancia left behind their three centers. The Soria, despite the goal conceded, did not give up and got control of the ball. In fact, they enjoyed good approaches to tie. The clearest, once with Castellano’s back that crashed into Riesgo’s right post in a strategy action. Earlier, Marc Mateu had warned with long shots. Girona, meanwhile, watched as Borja García and Samu Sáiz came into play. Rivera had positioned himself as the only pivot with Granell and Borja García a little more advanced. It cost but when the two Madrid midfielders connected, the second goal took off. He was about to arrive when Borja García left Stuani alone in front of Dani Barrio but the Uruguayan’s shot was repelled by the goalkeeper with his body (m.29).
Girona was not doing anything out of this world but at least they were winning. Meanwhile, Numancia proposed and reached the Risk area without finding, however, the way to the goal. On the other hand, Martí’s men instinctively stepped on the rival area. Aday with too much Vaseline was about to extend distances just a minute before Stuani broke his drought and shot the goalkeeper after a great play between Granell and Borja Garcia. It was the last action of the first half and served to make the Girona team face even more a game that was clearly going down for the locals.
The restart began with a change of side and the entry of Jairo Izquierdo by a fused Aday. The ten consecutive days without winning (a series of 2 points out of 30 possible) of Numancia further exaggerated the negative trend of the Soria, who had received two beatings when they do worse, at the beginning and end of the first half. Girona could not be trusted with an injured rival who was still breathing. With the help of Álex Sola on the right, the Soria team continued to insist on finding a goal that would allow them to re-enter the game. Carrión changed the system by removing a defender to bring in an offensive man like Moha in addition to Curro Sánchez, the most talented man on the team. A header from Stuani who rubbed the stick could have meant the final sentence to a match that was beginning to enter a phase of boredom. Martí, on the other hand, also moved the bench, bringing Ramalho through Calavera on the right side and removing Borja García from the field to put a little more oxygen and muscle with Diamanka.
Girona was very comfortable. Numancia showed no signs of life and there was nothing to suggest that the three points were in danger. A shot from Héctor Hernández well deflected by Riesgo was the only attempt by the Soria in the second half. On the Girona side, Stuani was looking to extend his goal-scoring record and tried with a well-intentioned shot from the front that went wide over the crossbar. The marker did not move. Numancia had thrown in the towel and Girona had such a peaceful match to lose the fear of failing.
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