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2-2: Draw at the Nuevo Mirandilla

RCD Espanyol play out stalemate against Cádiz

RCD Espanyol came away with a 2-2 draw against Cádiz on Sunday.

Diego Martínez made three changes for the trip to southern Spain: Benjamin Lecomte came in between the sticks, while Nico Melamed and Aleix Vidal started after coming on as substitutes last time out against Valencia.

Cádiz went straight forward on the attack in the opening minute, coming close with Rúben Sobrino’s header. They were in charge and having all the chances in the opening period, leaving the visitors defending with all of their might.

The hosts’ persistence would pay off when they broke the deadlock just shy of half-time. A long throw-in was not dealt with by the Espanyol backline amid several attempts, opening up for Víctor Chust to score a tap-in for Cádiz.

Espanyol needed to react in the second half, coming together to fight their way back into the match. Leandro Cabrera’s testing header was the first warning sign and the first effort on goal for the visitors.

As Espanyol searched for the goal, Joselu rose to the occasion as he did to Brian Oliván’s majestic cross. The striker met it with an inch perfect header to score and breathe new life into Martínez’s men and the match itself.

Javi Puado then came close twice, being denied well on both occasions by Jeremías Ledesma. But Joselu would answer the call again, latching onto a sumptuous through ball by Edu Expósito and smashing it into the roof of the net to give Espanyol the lead.

As the visitors had the momentum and the advantage, Cádiz found a way back to equalise. Alfonso Espino burst down the byline and pulled it back to Lucas Pérez, who squeezed the ball through Lecomte’s legs for the leveller.

Cádiz almost got another one late on in normal time, but Lecomte saved Álex Fernández’s near-post attempt. Lucas was mere inches away from seeing his free-kick go in, as it ended all square in an end-to-end affair at the Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla.

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Match information

Cádiz CF: Ledesma, Zaldua, Luis Hernández, Chust, A. Espino, I. Alejo (Brian 64’), F. San Emeterio (Alex 57’), R. Alcaraz (José Mari 83’), T. Bongonda (Lozano 57’), Sobrino, Á. Negredo (Lucas 64).

RCD Espanyol: Lecomte, Aleix V.C (Lazo 76’), Calero, S. Gómez, Cabrera, B. Oliván, Darder (K. Bare 75’), Vini Souza (Pol Lozano 87’), Edu Expósito (Óscar Gil 87’), Nico M.R (Puado 37’), Joselu.

Referee: Alejandro José Hernández Hernández 

Goals: 1-0 Chust 41’; 1-1 Joselu 51’, 1-2 Joselu 67’, 2-2 Pérez 78’.

Bookings: Nico M.R 13’, Aleix V.C 68’, Óscar Gil 90+2’, Pol Lozano 90+3’; San Emeterio 32’, Chust 38’, Zaldua 47’, Brian 69’.