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1-0: RCD Espanyol B sink league leaders

B team inflict first defeat of the season onto CD Teruel

RCD Espanyol B pulled off an impressive win as they beat CD Teruel 1-0 on Saturday.

Luis Blanco made two changes with Kenneth Soler and Juan Camilo Becerra coming into the starting XI. League leaders Teruel were unbeaten in the Segunda RFEF, visiting an  Espanyol side themselves without a home defeat at the Ciutat Esportiva Dani Jarque.

Espanyol started well and put their opponents on the back foot, as Raúl Dacosta had the opening chance to test the waters. Stephane Emaná could have put Teruel in front but did not get enough on the ball to be able to send it goalbound.

Though there were few efforts on goal for either side, the hosts were dictating the play and looked more like scoring, with the match in their hands going into the break.

Indeed, Espanyol took just three minutes after the restart to break the deadlock. A great piece of play from Abde Damar allowed him to cross it deep into the box, on a plate for Nabil Touaizi to head it across goal and give the pericos a deserved lead.

That opening goal saw the match burst into life and Espanyol goalkeeper Iker Venteo suddenly called into action. A simple save was followed by an excellent one at close range, denying Borja Romero on the edge of the six-yard box.

Lluís Recasens thought he had doubled the hosts’ lead with another header but was instantly flagged offside. Emaná’s attempt rolled just wide for the visitors before substitute Carlos Mangada hit the underside of the crossbar with his first involvement.

A frantic final few minutes saw Teruel push on for the equaliser, while Espanyol were looking to see out the win late on at all costs.

The final whistle was met with wild celebrations at the Ciutat Esportiva Dani Jarque. Teruel were defeated for the first time all season and Espanyol B rose up the table, moving one point and one spot off the top of the Segunda RFEF.    

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Match information

RCD Espanyol B: Venteo, Gorjón, Recasens, Villahermosa, Becerra (O. Romero 90’), Nabil (Mangada 69’), Dacosta (Javi Hernández 84’), Kenneth (Joan Puig 69’), Abde, Lancho, Roger Martínez (Armand 84’).

CD Teruel: Konate, Julen Hualde, Cabetas, Romero, Tena, Emaná (Andrés 70’), Sanchís, J. Rodríguez (Manchón 70’), Villanueva, Carbonell (David Aparicio 46’), Luis Sánchez (Lacruz 76’).

Referee: Álvaro Cánovas García-Villarrubia

Goals: Nabil 48’

Bookings: Becerra 90’, Venteo 90+5’, Villahermosa 90+7’; Sanchís 21’, Luis Sánchez 53’, Villanueva 81’

Attendance: Approx. 400