Seventeen years have gone by, but Málaga fans are still very aware of the feat of ‘Panagol’. The European runners-up at that time, Héctor Cúper’s solid and efficient Valencia, arrived at Martiricos. However, the figure of Dely Valdés prevails in the memory from that day, shining in all its splendour.
The Panamanian’s first goal, a bicycle kick from a Rufete corner, was a true work of art, full of aesthetics and elegance. Shortly before half-time, Dely scored again, and in the closing stages, sentenced the opponent by scoring a third goal, this time from the penalty spot. These were the 15th, 16th and 17th goals for the Blue and White ‘pichichi’ in the 2000/01 League campaign. Unforgettable.
Match stats: Málaga CF 3 – Valencia CF 0
Málaga CF - Joaquín Peiró: Contreras; Bravo, Larrainzar, Fernando Sanz, Roteta; Rufete, De los Santos, Sandro (Zárate 70’), Agostinho (Movilla 61’); Canabal (Edgar 80’) and Dely Valdés.
Valencia CF - Héctor Cúper: Cañizares; Angloma (Djukic 72’), Ayala, Pellegrino, Carboni; Aimar, Mendieta, Baraja, Kily González (Vicente 46’); Juan Sánchez (Zahovic 46’) and Carew.
Goals: 1-0, Dely Valdés (21’); 2-0, Dely Valdés (38’); 3-0, Dely Valdés -penalty- (76’).
Referee: Antoni Llonch Andreu (‘Comité Catalán’). Yellow cards were shown to Malaguistas; Contreras, De los Santos and Rufete; and from Valencia; Carboni, Kily González, Baraja and Juan Sánchez, as well as the expulsion of Ayala (44’).
Information: La Rosaleda, around 25.000 spectators. Matchday 34 of the First Division, held on 13th May 2001, in the 2000/01 season.
