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1-0: One step closer

RCD Espanyol B secure a hard-fought win at home to Peña Deportiva

RCD Espanyol B secured a massive 1-0 win against direct play-off rivals Peña Deportiva on Sunday.

It was fourth versus second in the Segunda RFEF, as Espanyol looked to close in on the top and a play-off position at the Ciutat Esportiva Dani Jarque. A win for Luis Blanco’s boys would see them go third and move within three points of opponents Peña Deportiva, who themselves were battling for the top spot.

The visitors would have the first real sight of goal when Marc Fraile went in on goal, though Ángel Fortuño stood him up to make a decent one-on-one save. Kenneth Soler almost capitalised for Espanyol at the other end but his lobbed effort was just too high.

It was always going to be a tight encounter, both teams chasing the same goal as direct rivals at the top. The chances continued to come at both ends, and Peña had a strong spell towards the end of the first half where they kept the ball in the final third. Goalless at the break left it all to play for in the second half.

The opener did come seven minutes after the restart, as Espanyol broke the deadlock with a swift move. Kenneth crossed it into the onrushing Javi Hernández in the box, who guided the ball into the bottom corner for his first goal for Espanyol B and a vital lead.

Though the chances were still coming thick and thin for the young pericos, they were relying on their strong defensive organisation to keep the scoreline as it was. Peña were pushing for the equaliser, and almost got it in stoppage time through Sergio Montero, whose hooked shot was not enough to get in on target.

The full-time whistle was relief as much as delight for Espanyol B, who make it three consecutive wins and move up to third at the time of writing. Two wins from the final four matches will secure them a play-off spot, while they sit six points off the top spot for automatic promotion to the third tier.

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Match information

RCD Espanyol B: Fortuño, Omar, Simo, Gorjón, Joan Puig (Lancho 70’), Javi Hernández (Casadesús 82’), Roger Martínez (Recasens 89’), Villahermosa, Kenneth (M. Carvalho 70’), Becerra, Abde (C. Mangada 82’)

Peña Deportiva: Edu Frias, Miranda, Estellés, Cámara (Goyo 75’), Samu Vázquez, Cristeto, Jofre, Marc Fraile (Montero 67’), Roger Colomina (Barrero 67’), Ton Ripoll (Christian 75’), Lorenzo Sánchez (Chema Moreno 58’)

Referee: Alejandro Sánchez Alba

Goals: 1-0 Javi Hernández 52’

Bookings: Javi Hernández 60’

Attendance: Approx. 400