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0-3: Job done at La Rosaleda
RCD Espanyol progress in Copa del Rey against CD Rincón
RCD Espanyol beat CD Rincón 3-0 in the Copa del Rey first round on Saturday.
Espanyol began their Copa del Rey campaign with the final fixture before the World Cup break, travelling to La Rosaleda to face the sixth-tier side. Diego Martínez handed full debuts to youngster Simo and B team captain Dani Villahermosa.
It was the visitors with the early opportunities, as they looked to take control of the encounter as soon as possible. Omar had the first shot on goal but of no concern for the goalkeeper, before Nico Melamed did force Joki into a save from range.
Espanyol were reduced to 10 men when Dani Gómez was sent off, having confronted referee Valentín Pizarro Gómez for not awarding a free-kick for a foul on him.
Martínez was forced into a rejig at half-time, not before Nico’s curled shot was tipped over the bar by Joki. Óscar Gil, Keidi Bare and Javi Puado came on for the second half as the blanquiazul coach looked to the bench for gamechangers.
Rincón’s player advantage lasted for the best part of five minutes before they saw a man of their own dismissed. Toni Conejo was sent off for an unpleasant tackle on Edu Expósito and ensured that both teams would be down to 10 men for the remainder of the evening.
That gave Espanyol the confidence they needed and they finally broke the deadlock on the hour mark. Nico’s piercing pass allowed José Carlos Lazo to put it on a plate for Puado, as the captain tapped home for the opening goal in Málaga.
Expósito added a superb second soon after when he found himself in space on the edge of the box. The midfielder controlled the ball and guided it into the top corner, leaving the keeper rooted to the spot and giving the visitors some breathing space.
In the closing stages Joselu wrapped up the win off the bench, turning and burying it into the back of the net. Espanyol saw out a comprehensive win at La Rosaleda to sign off with a win and securing their place in the second round of the Copa del Rey.
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Match information
CD Rincón: Joki, Á. Gil, Muñoz, Ó. González, A. Jiménez (S. Diaz 59’), Capitán (Á. Vergara 75’), S. Ramírez (Molina 59’), G. García, Morales (Pablo Roca 67’), E. Sánchez (Chechu Torres 59’), Conejo.
RCD Espanyol: Á. Fernández, Aleix V.C (Óscar Gil 46’), Cabrera, Simo, Omar (Kenneth 77’), Edu Expósito, Pol Lozano (K. Bare 46’), Villahermosa (Puado 46’), Nico M.R, D. Gómez, Lazo (Joselu 77’).
Referee: Valentín Pizarro Gómez
Goals: 0-1 Puado 60’, 0-2 Edu Expósito 70’, 0-3 Joselu 83’
Bookings: E. Sánchez 29’, Chechu Torres 61’; Nico M.R 23’, Óscar Gil 61’, Kenneth 79’
Red cards: Conejo 50’; D. Gómez 44’
Attendance: 7,912