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2-1: Until the very end

RCD Espanyol earned a crucial victory against Real Oviedo to keep promotion hopes alive

RCD Espanyol earned a crucial 2-1 win over Real Oviedo on Monday night.

Another vital match in the fight for promotion came against a direct rival in what was a six pointer at the top of the table. Oviedo thought they had scored inside two minutes, but it was quickly chalked off for offside, before Joan García made a great save with quick reflexes down to his bottom right.

Oviedo however had the momentum, and they did eventually take the lead through Oier Luengo from a corner. Espanyol had to fight back, and when Keidi Bare was stood inside the box, the referee consulted VAR and awarded a penalty. Martin Braithwaite stepped up and smashed it down the middle for a valuable equaliser and goal number 21 of the campaign for the Dane.  

The first half ended in controversy for the visitors, who seemingly restored their lead from another corner, but saw their goal ruled out by VAR for an offside. All square at the break, it was still all to play for at the Stage Front Stadium, both sides desperately fighting for the win that would boost their promotion hopes.

After what felt like an eternity of anticipation, Espanyol turned it around as Leandro Cabrera powered home his header from Pere Milla’s corner; no better time for the Uruguayan to score his first goal of the season. The job was far from done and Oviedo dominated the chances in the closing stages, while the hosts could not kill the game off.

García made some more crucial stops to keep the visitors at bay, and right until the final seconds, Espanyol had to defend like lions to hold onto the victory. They have secured a vital three points at home in the hunt for automatic promotion, a battle which will continue until the very end for the right to return to the top flight.