VPC Andorra Misses Promotion Play-Offs in Dramatic 14-16 Loss to Gipuzkoa

VPC Andorra missed out on the División de Honor Elit promotion play-offs after a dramatic 14-16 defeat to Gesalaga Okelan Gipuzkoa Sortzen on Sunday at 12:30pm in Estadi Nacional.

The Andorran side, coached by Dani Raya, needed a win to secure a top-four finish in the ascent phase and earn a home play-off against unbeaten Getxo. Instead, a last-gasp penalty kick by Gipuzkoa's Carlos Estrada in the 80th minute sealed their fate, leaving VPC in fifth place with 18 points—one point behind CAU Valencia, who took the final play-off spot after their own result against Soto del Real.

The match began brightly for VPC, with Gastón González converting a penalty in the second minute for a 3-0 lead. Gipuzkoa responded swiftly, Unai Bayón levelling at 3-3 in the eighth minute. VPC played the next 10 minutes with 14 players after Kgosposto Mpho-Entie Matlena received a yellow card for repeated infringements at the 16th minute.

The Basques capitalised immediately as Bittor Arzelus scored a try, converted by Bayón, to lead 10-3. VPC fought back: González narrowed the gap with another penalty two minutes later, then Cristian Emanuel Abarca touched down for a try in the 25th minute to regain the lead.

The second half remained tightly contested. Bayón levelled again with a penalty, but González restored VPC's advantage at 14-13 in the 58th minute. Estrada's final conversion silenced the crowd and ended VPC's hopes.

The loss capped a strong run for Raya's team, who had won their previous four matches after starting the phase with three straight defeats. Despite the heartbreak, VPC competed fiercely to the end, finishing just shy of promotion to Spain's second-tier rugby league.