“The helm closed for those who do not live the dream,” read a banner displayed by the Bukaneros. Beside him, a child on a cloud and a gigantic tarp with a ship leaving in the direction of Olympus. El Rayo believes and its fans, even more. Once again Vallecas pushed, like never before, and. First Ilias, then Unai López and finally Isi gave a perfect afternoon of football to the neighborhood, which is approaching the semifinals of the Conference.
3
0
Goals 1-0 min. 2: Ilias Chakkour. 2-0 min. 47: Unai Lopez. 3-0 min. 73: Is.
Arbitrator Benoit Bastien
yellow cards Barnabás Varga (min. 60), Pedro Díaz (min. 64), Filipe Relvas (min. 72) y Jovic (min. 88)
El Rayo faced the return in Athens and started biting. Íñigo Pérez opted for De Frutos at the top of the attack instead of Alemao, who started both round of 16 games against Samsunspor, and for Ilias Akhomach on the right wing. The bet on the Moroccan winger went well for the Rayo coach. In the 2nd minute of the match, Unai López disguised himself as Luka Modric with a beautiful outside pass, Álvaro García received the ball on the left wing, rushed to the baseline, put the pass back and Akhomach scored the goal with a crossed left-footed shot, leaving Strakosha stunned. Sweet start for Rayo.
After the goal, the match became a trench battle. The game went dormant until the 20th minute when it was activated again. In a corner kick favorable to Rayo that flew to the far post, Lejeune finished alone, the ball almost touched Unai and the ball hit the post and went in. However, the VAR came in to review the play and annulled the goal for offside by Unai.
AEK, relieved with the goal annulled, got their act together and began to create danger for Batalla’s goal. First with a one-on-one from Koita who made a bad last touch on the ball. Afterwards, Koita himself would shoot from the penalty spot alone, but Pep Chavarría appeared to cover with his body and send the shot for a corner.
Rayo suffered, as they were unable to reach the rival goal in their attempt to withstand the Greek attacks. Just a shot by Álvaro García from outside the area that narrowly missed. And when it seemed that the match was going to rest, the second goal came for Vallecas. Ilias invented a shot again, the ball was dead in the area after a stop by Strakosha and Unai López, with the goalkeeper on the ground, scored at will to make it 2-0.
The second half began and back to the trench. Rayo was comfortable with this script and AEK was desperate due to the inaccuracies and lack of gaps in the face of the great defensive work of the Rayista defense, supported by the double pivot made up of Unai López and Pathé Ciss. Only Koita was generating some danger, but insufficient given the disappearance of a very lost Jovic.
Towards half an hour into the second half, Íñigo Pérez’s team found themselves awarded a penalty. After a shot, the local players asked for a handball in the area that the referee did not appreciate at first. The action continued and Pacha Espino cut a counterattack that cost him the yellow card. But the VAR called the referee, who went to the screen to review the action, declared the maximum penalty and removed the card from the Rayo full-back. Isi, the captain, grabbed the ball and with superb calmness deceived Strakosha to make it 3-0 and unleash madness in Vallecas. Three goals that give Rayo an important advantage heading into the return leg in Athens, where they will have to go through hell to get into the European semi-finals for the first time in their history. This humble Lightning has no roof and wants to reach Olympus.
