Sergio Araujo’s 84th minute goal helped Las Palmas beat Real Zaragoza on away goals and promotion into La Liga for the first time in 13 years.
Zaragoza travelled to Gran Canaria as favourites having won the first leg 3-1, but Las Palmas recorded a 2-0 victory which saw them through on away goals. Roque Mesa opened the scoring on 33 minutes to give the hosts real belief of finding a second as Araujo left it late to clinch promotion.
The moment was sweet for Las Palmas boss Paco Herrera who previously managed Zaragoza between June 2013 and March 2014. Veteran Juan Carlos Valeron, the ex-Deportivo and Spain legend, will also have relished the promotion with his local club at the ripe old age of 40! A reunion with Depor next season is on the cards too after the Galicians stayed up on the final day last year.
Araujo’s winner, his 24th of the season for the club during his loan spell from Boca Juniors, sparked wild celebrations at the final whistle as Las Palmas’ long route back to La Liga was finally over. They endured a brief stint in the Segunda B between 2004 and 2006, and subsequently two failed play-off campaigns but can now look forwards to welcoming Europe’s finest to the Canary Islands.
The impressive Estadio Gran Canaria is certainly ready for such major teams as it has a capacity of over 32,000. Spain played an international fixture there back in 2007 against Northern Ireland as a team from the Canary Islands returns to the top for the first time since Tenerife were relegated in 2010.
