Ten-man Granada defeated nine-man Valencia on Wednesday in one of the most ridiculously officiated games you’ll ever see at the highest level of professional sport. Adrián Cordero Vega was the man in the middle, and his performance included a questionable decision at the monitor followed by three red cards in six minutes.
The shit show began in the 14th minute after Kenedy clearly opened the scoring for Granada. But not so fast — during the buildup, Valencia’s Jason had taken control of Dimitri Foulquier’s arm and guided it into his own face. Maybe we can argue about this, but I hope we can agree that it’s a bad use of VAR.
VAR continues to terrorize LaLiga, as a seemingly normal goal was taken away from Granada due to a foul in the build-up
Do you think they made the right call? pic.twitter.com/QxCl04bOE2— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) December 30, 2020
Kevin Gameiro then opened the scoring for Valencia in the 36th minute following a pinpoint cross from 2018 World Cup legend Denis Cheryshev.
After threatening the hosts' back-line all game KEVIN GAMEIRO finally finds the breakthrough for @valenciacf_en #GranadaValencia
beIN SPORTS
CONNECT https://t.co/LRYa03w6yI pic.twitter.com/Z7Pkfhe3OL— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) December 30, 2020
Poetic justice was served in first half stoppage time when Kenedy’s free kick took a heavy deflection to fox Rui Silva.
Gol de Kenedy le da el empate al Granada CF @GranadaCdeF 1-1 @valenciacf #GranadaValencia pic.twitter.com/GJjGMH280g
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) December 30, 2020
To the second half we go. Buckle up.
70th minute: Jason and Domingos Duarte clash. It’s a second yellow for Jason and he’s off.
¡ROJA! Jason se va expulsado y deja al @valenciacf con 10 jugadores pic.twitter.com/Vxw6LMYrqD
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) December 30, 2020
73rd minute: Gonçalo Guedes says something to the ref and it’s a straight red. Off you go.
¡Roja para Guedes! El @valenciacf está perdiendo la cabeza, yya juega con 9 pic.twitter.com/J6OeiTpjSz
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) December 30, 2020
76th minute: Duarte makes a tactical foul and it’s a straight red. See ya.
Tercer expulsado del partido, ahora le tocó al @GranadaCdeF Domingos Duarte se va temprano del partido pic.twitter.com/5Uqar70aQk
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) December 30, 2020
We’d have one final twist in the 88th minute through 38-year-old Granada striker Jorge Molina. This is old-man strength in the neck muscles.
JORGE MOLINA leaps and delivers a late hammer blow to nine-man @valenciacf_en #GranadaValencia
beIN SPORTS
CONNECT https://t.co/LRYa03w6yI pic.twitter.com/qmGYpf8nsI— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) December 30, 2020
In total, the match featured 31 fouls, six yellow cards and the three reds.
USMNT talent Yunus Musah played the final 14 minutes for Valencia, which is now only out of the relegation on goal difference. Granada moved up to seventh, just one point behind sixth-place Barcelona.