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2-2: All square on the road

RCD Espanyol fall short in a tough draw away from home at Elche CF

RCD Espanyol played out a 2-2 draw away to Elche CF on Saturday.

A crucial promotion clash against a direct rival brought Manolo González’s men to the Estadio Martínez Valero, where an Elche side sat just behind them in the table. Espanyol got off to the perfect start: inside two minutes Martin Braithwaite played it all the way through for Javi Puado, who simply had to tap it home for a huge opening goal.

But Espanyol’s joy nor lead would last long, as Elche drew level 10 minutes later through Mourad. It was the hosts who would dominate from then and come closest to taking the lead, with Joan García doing well to claw a deep cross off the line and keep it level going into the break.

The second half was a tense watch, with both sides pushing for a breakthrough but not much giving at the Martínez Valero. Espanyol had to be patient and finally got the goal they needed, Omar El Hilali putting it on a plate to Braithwaite to fire his header into the back of the net for the lead and his 20^th goal of the campaign.

González’s side had to fight to defend their lead, but in the final 10 minutes Elche equalised again and made sure that they too earned a point. It keeps Espanyol as they were, in fourth place and at least a point off the automatic promotion places, depending on other results this weekend.