In a dramatic finish that had Vallecas on its feet, Cristhian Stuani once again proved why he's Girona's ultimate clutch player, snatching a 1-1 draw deep into added time and keeping the club's survival hopes alive.

For much of the match, it looked like Rayo Vallecano would walk away with all three points. Girona struggled to find any rhythm, creating few chances and looking sluggish in attack. But just when defeat seemed certain, the veteran Uruguayan striker delivered another moment of magic.

The turning point came in the 86th minute when Brazilian forward Alemao deflected Unai López's long-range effort past goalkeeper Gazzaniga, sending the home crowd into celebration. It was a cruel blow for Míchel's side, who had battled hard but lacked the cutting edge to break through.

Enter Stuani. With the clock ticking into stoppage time, the 37-year-old rose highest to meet a pinpoint corner from Tsygankov, powering a header into the net and silencing the stadium. It was a classic poacher's finish from a player who has made a career of delivering when it matters most.

The first half was a tense, cautious affair. Rayo controlled possession and forced Gazzaniga into several sharp saves, particularly from Camello. Girona's only real threat came from Joel Roca, who couldn't capitalize after beating Batalla. With key attackers missing and no fully fit striker available, Míchel's men once again showed the goal-scoring struggles that have plagued them all season.

Girona showed more intent after the break, with Tsygankov firing just over the bar. They even thought they had a penalty when Óscar Valentín handled in the box, but VAR correctly overturned the decision. The match seemed destined for a goalless draw until those wild final minutes flipped everything on its head.

While it wasn't a vintage performance, this result says everything about Girona's fighting spirit. They may not be pretty to watch right now, but they refuse to quit. And with Stuani leading the charge, this team still believes they can beat the odds.