Girona cried again yesterday in the play-off final. The tears, this time, were not of frustration and disappointment, but of joy, emotion, liberation and also anger: the ascent is a reality. “We’re First!” they sang euphorically, before starting to lose their voice, the players at the end of the match in Tenerife after conquering Heliodoro and pushing for Primera three years later. The third was the good one. A reward as much appreciated as desired by the club that opens a very exciting scenario in the short term. Yes, Montilivi will once again see Barça, the European champions Madrid, and dream, as Pere Pons said a few years ago in the first promotion, of “breaking them”. A goal from Stuani from the penalty spot paved the way for a victory that, after León’s own goal, Arnau certified and served to leave Heliodoro with a nosebleed who had everything ready for the party. . The jeweled faces of veterans like Bernardo, Juanpe or Stuani himself, who have had to force and play infiltrators more than once and twice this year, evidenced the magnitude of a historic milestone. An absolute success for a Girona that yesterday made the 300 brave fans who dared to travel cry with joy, but who knew that, at 2,500 kilometers, there were a few thousand more suffering and excited from the distance. Goodbye ghosts, welcome First Division.
This time, unlike Eibar, Míchel played with Stuani at the start. The Uruguayan’s ability to intimidate made the coach opt for him instead of Bustos on the attack, accompanied by Baena. Girona immediately showed that they would be true to their philosophy by starting to have the ball and reach the Soriano area. It remains to be seen whether Tenerife was a bit more ambitious or just as conservative as Montilivi, aware that the tie was worth it. Girona started strong, hitting the Canaries with the ball and arriving with some danger in a couple of interceptions by Baena and Bueno. In the fourth hour, Míchel had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. In came Iván Martín, who failed to score.
Despite the overwhelming dominance of a Girona with a lot of personality, the first clear opportunity was local, when Juan Carlos stopped a well-placed shot from Mario González. Tenerife showed their claws but Girona stopped the small local step forward with a shot from Samu Saiz that took Soriano out of the corner and, immediately afterwards, the action that changed the game. Sergio González with his hand deflected a shot from Juanpe into the area and the referee blows the whistle for a penalty. Stuani did not get nervous and tricked Soriano into advancing Girona and shaking the final. Those of Michel arrived at halfway point being equipment of First and with the Heliodoro, nervous.
The team had the challenge of maintaining the lead during the second half to catch the goal. The scenario had changed radically and, with the score against, Tenerife was forced to force the machine. A blow to the head by León would wake up the locals who would start a bombardment of balls hanging in the area and that would penalize a weak Girona. Carlos Ruiz, from the head, beat Juan Carlos to make it 1-1 on the scoreboard. Heliodoro roared as Tenerife held the pan by the handle again.
When Girona suffered the most and it seemed that their rival had to grow up with the support of the public, Michel’s team met with an unexpected but always welcome factor, as luck would have it. A cross from Baena touched León’s chest and the ball ended up in the back of the net. The 1-2 froze the Canarian stadium which, outraged, reacted with a rain of objects on the field, one of which hit Stuani. With the goal and the hydration stop, Tenerife merged. Taking advantage of the fact that the Canaries were yellow, Girona nailed the final blow in a stoppage time action. It was Arnau Martínez who ruled the game after finishing off with a toe a foul served by Aleix Garcia. The celebration of the goal in the corner where the white-and-red fans were there showed the importance of Girona’s third goal.
Neither ghosts nor misfortunes. Girona did not suffer at all in the last ten minutes, nor in the extra nine minutes that the referee extended. It was done. He would not escape and this time he did not escape. The final whistle caused a burst of euphoria from the Girona bench, which had been standing for some time waiting to jump on the grass to celebrate. Tears, hugs, slides, jumps and chants was the drawing immediately after the end of the match. Girona rounded off the party that had started shortly before the Girona Basketball and culminated in a glorious weekend. The First is a reality. Michel, whom few believed when he said it in the summer, was right.