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2-0: Play-off defeat

RCD Espanyol B's season comes to a close in aggregate defeat to Atlético de Madrid B

RCD Espanyol B were beaten 2-0 (3-0 on aggregate) by Atlético de Madrid B in the Segunda RFEF play-off semi-final on Sunday.

After falling to a narrow 1-0 defeat in the first leg at home, Luis Blanco’s boys travelled to the capital looking to overcome the deficit and advance to the final. The hosts began dominating the match, although found it difficult to generate scoring chances. Espanyol started to find their way into it and had their clearest chance through Nabil Touaizi.

Goalless at half-time, the visitors were punished early in the second half as Atlético took the lead on the day and doubled their advantage on aggregate. The young pericos thought that they had an equaliser through Nabil when his shot crashed in off the crossbar, but the ghost goal was not given by referee Juan Francisco Roca Robles.

That allowed Atleti to go up the other end and win a penalty, as they made it 2-0 and all but sealed their place in the play-off final. Espanyol continued to search for a way back in but found themselves short undermanned, when both Raúl Dacosta and Javier Lancho were sent off to leave the visitors down to nine players in the closing stages.

For all of their efforts, Espanyol were beaten by a strong opponent and knocked out of contention for promotion to the third tier. It has been an impressive season for RCD Espanyol B but ultimately short of their promotion aims, as Blanco’s side will go again next season in the Segunda RFEF.

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Match information

Atlético de Madrid B: Iturbe, Marco, Guerrero, Cala, Dani G., Carlos, Joel Arumí, Kostis, Diego Bri, Gismera, Boñar (Sergio Díez 57')

RCD Espanyol B: Fortuño, Omar (Lancho 76'), Gorjón, Villahermosa (Mangada 76'), A. Roca, Becerra (Abde 63’), Nabil, Joan Puig, Simo, Roger Martínez (M. Carvalho 76') , Javi Hernández (Dacosta 63’).

Referee: Juan Francisco Roca Robles

Goals: 1-0, min. 52: Bonar; 2-0 min. 75: Carlos Martin

Bookings: Becerra, A. Roca; Boñar, Roger

Red cards: Dacosta, Lancho