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1-1: Sweet tie in Southampton
RCD Espanyol gets a good mark in a brave and alternative match
The third visit to St. Mary's Stadium Espanyol during the preseason period ended with another tie to one, like last summer. This time, the whites and blues arrived to Southampton with the good feelings reached in the tour of Holland but with the certainty that the team needs to continue improving.
The match started with a powerful shot of Marc Roca that Forster could save. Leo Baptistao had a great chance when his throw crashes to the post. During the first 25 minutes the main control was for RCD Espanyol. However, after a great save of Pau López, Oriol Romeu flicked a header into the far corner to put Saints 1-0 up. Pau had a lot of business before the half time; Redmond and Tadic were close to score again for Southampton.
After the break, the match was full of up and downs and a lot of playing in both areas. Caicedo entered on the field for first time during preseason and he scored the tie after a clear penalty caused by Leo Baptistao.
RCD Espanyol increased the pace of the match in the last minutes, in fact, Óscar Duarte had a header opportunity but the ball was stopped under the goal line.
Full-time stats:
Southampton FC: Forster (McCarthy, min. 46), Yoshida (Jones, 83), Clasie (Hojbjerg, 46 '), Long (Austin, 46'), Tadic (Jay Rodriguez, 71 '), Oriol Romeu (Reed, 71 '), Ward-Prowse (Steven Davis, 46'), Van Dijk (Stephens, 83 '), Martina, Redmond (Isgrove, 71') and McQueen.
RCD Espanyol: Pau, Javi Lopez (Arbilla, 69'), Alvaro O. Duarte, Aaron (R. Duarte, 46'), Marc Roca, Victor Sanchez, Hernán (Salva Sevilla, 69'), Jurado (Piatti, 46 '), Reyes (Caicedo, 57') and Leo Baptistao (Gerard Moreno, 83').
Goals: 1-0 (Oriol Romeu, 31 '); 1-1 (Caicedo (p.), 69 ')
Referee: Mike Dean
Subs: 8.984 spectators at St Mary's Stadium.