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2-2: Cruel fate

A 93rd minute equaliser seals Espanyol’s relegation from LaLiga

RCD Espanyol were held to a 2-2 draw by Valencia on Sunday, as they were relegated from LaLiga.

A crucial final away match of the season took Luis García’s side to Mestalla, naming an unchanged side from midweek. Their opponents Valencia also needed the points for survival and they started aggressively, almost taking the lead through Justin Kluivert who was offside anyway.

Lato had a golden chance for the hosts but blazed it over from close range, injuring himself in the process. They soon got the opener just before half-time, Diego López the goalscorer.

But Espanyol instantly responded, when César Montes towered above his man to head it into the bottom corner, his second goal in two matches and a vital equaliser to take into half-time.

The second half needed to be all out, with Martin Braithwaite coming on at the break. He would have an instant impact when, just four minutes after coming on, he poked home the rebound to bring Espanyol ahead.

Espanyol had a valuable lead and now it was on Valencia, throwing everything forward to get back into it. The visitors looked to have seal it when Montes headed it in again, but it was disallowed for a foul on the keeper despite the fact that it should have stood as a legal goal.

Valencia’s stoppage time equaliser, along with results elsewhere, sealed Espanyol’s fate. A draw at Mestalla was not enough, meaning that Espanyol have been relegated from LaLiga.

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Match information

Valencia CF: Mamardashvili, Thierry R. (Foulquier 63’) Gabriel Paulista, Diakhaby, Gayà, Lato (S. Lino 34’), Nico (Hugo Duro 63’) J. Guerra, A. Almeida, Diego López (Cavani 82’), Kluivert

RCD Espanyol: Pacheco, Óscar Gil, S. Gómez (Calero 90+3’), C. Montes, Cabrera, B. Oliván (Pedrosa 67’), Denis Suárez (Vini Souza 67’), Darder, Nico M.R. (Braithwaite 46’), Puado (Aleix V.C. 84’), Joselu

Referee: Jesús Gil Manzano

Goals: 1-0 Diego López 38’, 1-1 C. Montes 41’; 1-2 Braithwaite 50’, 2-2 S. Lino 90+3’

Bookings: C. Montes 12’, Óscar Gil 37’, Aleix V.C. 90’, Braithwaite 90+2’

Attendance: 44,141