Valencia, August 23: Santi Mina hit a double for Valencia CF but it was still not enough as they went down 4-2 at home to Las Palmas on Monday.The winger headed home a corner on six minutes before a dangerous Las Palmas hit back on the counter attack with Marko Livaja heading in the equaliser after 15 minutes.A Jonathan Viera penalty and a Kevin-Prince Boateng header put Las Palmas into a commanding lead while Mina got his second after 34 minutes that gave hope for the second half.
However, despite some fine football from Valencia they were not clinical enough and late on Livaja got his second of the night from a breakaway.Valencia coach Pako Ayestarán put out the same side that beat Fiorentina in the Trofeo Naranja except for Joao Cancelo coming in on the right wing for the suspended Rodrigo Moreno.It was blow to lose the in-form Rodrigo who was the side’s top scorer in preseason and they were also missing new signing Nani who would have been an ideal alternative on the wing.Early on fullback José Luis Gayà showed plenty of confidence by attempting a 35-yard lob but Javi Varas, back-pedalling quickly, tipped the ball behind for a corner.Soon after and they were ahead with Mina nodding home at the near post from a well-taken corner from Dani Parejo.Valencia looked comfortable on the ball especially when it was at the feet of Parejo who silkily threaded passes through the midfield. While they had plenty of possession and caused problems for the Las Palmas rearguard, they were also vulnerable on the counterattack.
The visitors were posing little threat but then fullback Míchel Macedo crossed from the right channel and Livaja got to the ball first before steering it into the corner.It soon got worse for the blanquinegros when Joao Cancelo was adjudged to have brought down Castellano for a penalty and Viera put the spot-kick into the top corner.Then with Valencia on the back foot Nabil El Zhar swung in a dangerous cross from the right and a fine header from Boateng flew into the net.In an action packed half, Ayestarán’s players were far from finished and pulled a goal back from another corner. Parejo’s cross was not cleared and after ricocheting around the area, the ball fell to Mina who fired home from 12 yards.After the break Valencia continued to attack with Paco Alcácer deciding to pull the ball back rather than shoot in the area and the pass was cut out.They had to leave themselves exposed at the back as they pressed forward and created a series of chances.Alcácer was unlucky with a cross, slightly behind him, which he couldn’t direct on target and then Mina was put through on goal but Varas got down well to deny him his hat-trick.The opportunities continued to come with Alcácer hitting the top of the cross bar from 25 yards and Gayà had time inside the area to bring the ball down but shot wide on his weaker right foot.Valencia couldn’t find the back of the net and instead Livaja running clear on a counter-attack slotted home two minutes from the end.
