Troy Parrott Shines in Real Betis Victory Against Getafe
Troy Parrott’s La Liga return lasted barely a few minutes before he tried to light up Seville.
Back in the Real Betis starting XI on Thursday night against Getafe, the Ireland striker almost produced a goal-of-the-season contender inside five minutes, punishing a loose pass near halfway and spotting David Soria off his line. His audacious lob had the keeper scrambling, Soria clawing the ball away at full stretch with the slightest of touches.
It set the tone. Betis were on the front foot, Getafe retreating into their own half and hanging on. The hosts moved the ball with purpose but lacked composure in front of goal, Antony twice wasting promising openings by firing high over the bar.
The pressure finally told on the stroke of half-time – and Parrott was at the heart of it.
Breaking from deep, Betis worked the ball into midfield where Abde Ezzalzouli drove forward and released Antony down the flank. Parrott drifted into space through the centre, took the return pass at the edge of the box and, with one sharp touch, rolled it across the face of goal. Abde arrived to meet it and drilled a low finish beyond Soria for 1-0 in the 45th minute.
Betis had their lead. They just couldn’t kill the game.
Getafe sat even deeper after the interval, content to soak up pressure and wait for a late swing. Betis probed, but the second goal refused to come, and the frustration began to show. Manuel Pellegrini turned to his bench midway through the second half, withdrawing Parrott, Isco and Abde in a bid to refresh a tiring attack.
The change brought energy but not clarity. Betis lost some fluency, and Getafe finally ventured forward, forcing the home side to defend their own box in the closing stages. A late surge from the visitors had the crowd on edge, yet Betis held firm to see out a 1-0 win.
The victory lifts Betis to third in La Liga on 15 points, level with Real Madrid and behind only on goal difference. Barcelona, perfect so far with six wins from six, sit three points clear at the top.
For Parrott, it was another important step in a quietly impressive start to life in Spain. The Dubliner had already delivered the decisive goal against Real Madrid a fortnight ago, coming off the bench at Estadio La Cartuja to score the winner in his first home appearance and hand José Mourinho’s side their first defeat of the season.
Now he has the assist for the only goal against Getafe, a growing influence in a Betis team edging into the title conversation. How long before the Irish forward becomes one of the main reference points in Pellegrini’s attack?
