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2-2: All square in thrilling affair
RCD Espanyol B play out tight draw with Atlético Saguntino
RCD Espanyol B were held to a 2-2 draw by Atlético Saguntino on Sunday.
With the Segunda RFEF season entering the final stretch, Luis Blanco’s boys could solidify their play-off spot with a first win in four outings. They hosted a Saguntino side just one point shy of the relegation zone in a vital match for both sides.
Though Espanyol were working their way into the final third, there were no clear-cut chances at goal for them nor for their opposition. Yet it would be Saguntino who would strike first and take the lead through Moha Chabboura.
However, Espanyol would only be behind for 121 seconds before drawing level in style. Abde Damar collected the ball far from goal, and from 35 yards out fired it with power and precision into the top corner for a stunning equaliser for the young pericos.
The hosts now had a spring in their step and could have taken the lead on a few occasions, with Luca Koleosho heading wide and Juan Camilo Becerra unable to hit the target. Abde forced a top save from Marcos Lavín who got down well to keep it out, as the sides went into the break all square.
With Espanyol forced into a substitution for the injured Koleosho, Saguntino restored their lead through Juanma Acevedo. But just like the first goal, Espanyol responded quickly and equalised again thanks to Javier Lancho’s neat finish inside the box.
Villahermosa’s shot was straight at the keeper, but it was the hosts who were in control now. They thought they had a penalty – and should have – when Becerra was brought down by keeper Lavín, but was subsequently booked for apparent simulation.
The young pericos were not giving up, as Villahermosa’s effort came off the post before Becerra’s header went narrowly wide. Fortuño pulled off a superb save at the other end, and though Espanyol gave it everything in stoppage time, they could not find a way through as it ended honours even at the Ciutat Esportiva Dani Jarque.
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Match information
RCD Espanyol: Fortuño, Omar (Casadesús 86’), Simo, Recasens, Lancho (M. Carvalho 72’), Koleosho (Kenneth 49’), Villahermosa, Roger Martínez (Dacosta 72’), A. Roca (Nabil 86’), Becerra, Abde.
Atlético Saguntino: Marcos, Javi, Sana, Acevedo (Ato 75’), Pedro (Jorge 86’), Roan, Nacho, Moha (Ketu 64’), Juanma, Carlos D., Luis Navarro.
Referee: Miguel Donato Pedreira
Goals: 0-1 Moha 27’, 1-1 Abde 29’; 1-2 Acevedo 52’, 2-2 Lancho 55’
Bookings: Lancho 44’, Abde 45’, Becerra 78’, M. Carvalho 88’; Carlos D. 45’, Pedro 56’
Attendance: Approx. 300