Eibar snatch dramatic stoppage-time winner after two-year wait
Olaetxea's 92nd-minute strike gives San José's men three precious points against Almería, ending a long drought of last-gasp victories at Ipurua.
Eibar finally rediscover that winning feeling with a dramatic injury-time winner that sent Ipurua into raptures.
Last-gasp drama returns to Ipurua
Blimey, talk about leaving it late! The Basque outfit had resigned themselves to sharing the spoils after a stellar performance against Almería when the referee’s board showed just three minutes of added time. But football, the beautiful game that keeps on giving, had other ideas.
In the 92nd minute, a lateral free-kick changed everything. Corpas delivered a measured ball to the edge of the box where Peru Nolaskoain cleverly flicked it on, leaving Ander Olaetxea one-on-one with Andrés Fernández. The number 14 kept his cool as cucumber and slotted home, sending the Ipurua faithful absolutely barmy.
Breaking the curse
You’d have to go back more than two years to find Eibar’s last stoppage-time winner - October 8, 2023, to be precise, when they nicked it against Amorebieta thanks to Aketxe’s 92nd-minute effort. Since then, added time has been more of a nightmare than a dream for the armeros:
- Lost countless points in the dying moments
- Even saw promotion hopes dashed in the final minutes of matches
- Developed a reputation for late collapses
Fortress Ipurua showing its strength
This victory will do wonders for Eibar’s confidence as they continue to turn Ipurua into a proper fortress. Beyond the dramatic finish, San José’s men put in a comprehensive shift against one of Segunda División’s heavyweights.
Standout individual performances came from Nolaskoain, Jon Guruzeta and Corpas, but the collective defensive solidity was equally impressive. In truth, they created enough chances to have settled matters long before that heart-stopping finale.
Building momentum
Nothing beats a last-minute winner for celebration scenes, does it? The jubilation at full-time told its own story. This result validates the point earned at Granada and gives Eibar four points from six to kick off the second half of the season - not too shabby at all.
Next up, they welcome Sporting to Ipurua with their tails up. Another win would put daylight between themselves and the drop zone while stabilizing their position in the table. After this slice of stoppage-time joy, you wouldn’t bet against them, would you?