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3-0: All eyes on the play-offs
RCD Espanyol defeat FC Cartagena in the final regular season game ahead of the play-offs.
RCD Espanyol won 3-0 against FC Cartagena on Sunday in the final game before the play-offs.
In the last match of the regular season, Manolo González’s side already had their play-off berth secured but not their final position, which would determine their first round opponents. Espanyol came close to an opening goal early on, as Martin Braithwaite’s overhead kick was denied by Raúl Lizoain at the Stage Front Stadium.
A largely uneventful game was almost brought to life by a penalty for Cartagena, but there was an offside in the buildup, before Braithwaite hit the post up the other end. With the score goalless at the break, González turned to Nico Melamed to inject some energy into the game and push the Mágico up the table.
Ten minutes into the second half and Espanyol got the breakthrough: Braithwaite’s delightful pass to Salvi Sánchez gave him the time and freedom to put it on a plate to Puado, whose first-time finish found the bottom corner and put them ahead at last.
Espanyol’s one-goal lead did not give them breathing space and allowed Cartagena to pile the pressure on and threaten the equaliser. They finally found the second goal through Braithwaite, who picked up a loose ball and smashed it home for a remarkable 22nd goal of the season. The Mágico killed the game off in stoppage time thanks to Melamed’s finish, wrapping up the three points with three goals.
At the end of an enthralling day, Espanyol finish fourth and will play Real Sporting de Gijón in the LALIGA Hypermotion play-offs, vying for an instant return to the top flight.