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2-1: Out of the Cup
RCD Espanyol Femení are knocked out of the Copa de la Reina after a late defeat
RCD Espanyol were eliminated from the Copa de la Reina after losing 2-1 to Tenerife Santa Cruz Femenino on Wednesday.
After overcoming Huesca in the first round, Adrián González’s side continued their cup campaign with a long journey to Tenerife. The first half was very even with good opportunities for both teams, with goalkeeper Emily Down on her toes to keep the home side at bay in the opening stages.
The game livened up after the break, and through a corner soon after the restart, Núria Martínez arrived at the far post to bring the Mágico in front. They had a great opportunity to extend the lead with a long shot that narrowly missed the target, though had a deserved lead to build on.
Tenerife Santa Cruz tried to react, but ran into an inspired Dolan, upon her return from an anterior cruciate ligament injury eleven months on. The American goalkeeper was called into action to save a penalty heading for the top corner and, shortly after, prevented an equaliser from a volley.
However, despite the keeper's good interventions, Tenerife managed to equalise a few minutes from time. It seemed that the game was heading towards extra time, but the hosts managed to turn it around with two minutes to go, a rapid comeback that left González’s team stunned.
Without time to react, Espanyol could not bring it back level to head into extra time and were beaten in Tenerife, bringing an end to their Copa de la Reina run for this year. Full focus now turns to the league, as they look to earn promotion and return to where they belong in the first division.