Las Palmas 2 - Racing Santander 1

Las Palmas: Nacho González; Baiano, Alvaro, Schurrer, Paqui, Angel (Jarni 65'); Edu Alonso, Samways, Jorge (Toddi 75'); Guayre (Orlando 75'), Oulare. 5-3-2.
Racing: Ceballos; Tais, Txema, Mellberg, Sietes; Julio Alvarez (Estévez 46'), Espina (Ismael 72'), Jaime, Amavisca; Bestchastnykh, Preciado (Manjarín 62'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Las Palmas: Edu Alonso for Pablo Lago / Racing: Espina, Bestchastnykh for Manjarín, Rushfeldt.

Goals:
1-0. 27. Oulare. Headed in off keeper after long ball from Edu Alonso.
1-1. 52. Amavisca (penalty). Alvaro ruled to have fouled Preciado in area.
2-1. 82. Oulare (penalty). After dubious foul on substitute Orlando by Txema.

Las Palmas won their third game in a row to rise up to eighth spot, only one point outside of the UEFA positions in the league. Victories against Málaga at home and Bilbao away, and now the three points against Racing, have helped manager Sergio Kresic get his feet back under the table after being close to being fired only two or three weeks ago. The change came about during the two week lay off for international matches, with Kresic working behind closed doors with his players and changing to a formation with three central defenders. Since then Brazilians Baiano and Alvaro have returned from the Olympic games to strengthen the defence and Kresic has drafted other talented home grown youngsters such as Guayre to his squad. Given their recent success the manager stuck to more or less the same side, with the only change being Edu Alonso for the injured Pablo Lago. That meant there was no place for Robert Jarni, now back from injury, and he started the game on the bench.

Racing's manager Goiko brought back Bestchastnykh after his two match suspension for insulting the referee, and replaced Manjarín with the more defensive midfielder Espina. Las Palmas started confidently, and referee Losantos Omar turned down their claims for an early penalty when Sietes brought down the rapid Guayre. Ceballos kept out a series of shots, and then Oulare finally ended Racing's resistance with a glancing header from Edu's cross, the ball entering the net off the heel of the visitor's keeper. That sparked off a reaction from Racing, and they had their best moments of the game in the fifteen minutes either side of the interval, with Nacho González saving from Bestchastnykh and Baiano clearing off the line from Amavisca.

With an hour gone, Losantos Omar upset local fans when he awarded a very rigorous penalty for a foul by Alvaro on Preciado, and Amavisca stepped up to score from the spot for the third time in two matches. The ex Real Madrid veteran has taken over where Salva left off last season, and between them they have been successful with 16 penalties in a row in the last 18 months. González saved the day for the Canary Islanders a few minutes later when Bestchastnykh got free in front of goal, and Jarni, who had come on earlier in the half, replied with a left footed shot which just cleared the bar. With only a few minutes to go Txema appeared to trip up substitute Orlando in the penalty area, and the referee had no doubt in pointing to the spot. Oulare, (who some say is from Guinea and some say from Nigeria) coolly slotted home his second of the night to give his team the three points.

Racing slide down to the relegation zone, and once again Goiko needs a result on Wednesday night against Villarreal to hold on to his job for a few more weeks. Kresic is safe for the time being, but with the 'Bermuda triangle' of games against Deportivo, Barcelona and Real Madrid coming up, it may be his turn for the cast-iron underpants in a couple of weeks time. You have to have a strong constitution if you want to be a football manager in this country.