Girona will face Elche in the Segunda Division play off final, after Francisco Rodriguezโs side won 2-1 at away at Almeria in their semi-final second leg.
๐ A LA FINAL!!!!!#AlmerรญaGirona #GironaFC #LaLluitaQueEnsUneix pic.twitter.com/OwjTOBfcIi
โ Girona FC 9๏ธโฃ0๏ธโฃ๐ (@GironaFC) August 16, 2020
Uruguayan international Cristhian Stuani netted a vital goal in Catalonia in last weekโs first leg, to hand them a 1-0 lead heading into tonightโs clash at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos.
Samuel Saiz gave the Catalans an early 2-0 aggregate lead in Andalucia, before Jose Carlos Lazo equalised on the night.
After surviving a second half onslaught by the hosts, Stuani struck in the closing minutes to seal their place in the final.
Elche drew 0-0 at home to Real Zaragoza in their first leg, but a late goal from club legend Nino sealed a 1-0 win, after Javi Ros missed an added time penalty for the hosts.
The 40-year old was the hero for Pachetaโs team, in what is probably the most important goal of his 15-year career.
84โ โฑโฝ๏ธ| ๐ก๐๐ก๐ข ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ก๐๐
๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ฅ๐. ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ก๐ข. ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ง๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐๐จฬ๐ง๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฃ๐๐กฬ๐ข๐#RealZaragoza 0๏ธโฃ-1๏ธโฃ #ElcheCF#Creemos | #JuegaNuestroElche pic.twitter.com/3pn27RoDwC
โ Elche Club de Fรบtbol ๐ด (@elchecf) August 16, 2020
40 year-old Nino sends @elchecf into the #LaLigaSmartBank play-off final! ๐๐คฉ๐ด#RealZaragozaElche 0-1 (agg 0-1) pic.twitter.com/pHrezGKmew
โ LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) August 16, 2020
Girona are aiming to secure an immediate return to the top-flight after dropping down into the Segunda Division 12 months ago.
Elche were relegated from La Liga in 2015, before slipping down into the third tier in 2017, before climbing back up a year later.
Image via La Liga Smart Bank/Girona CF