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3-0: Three more points

RCD Espanyol earn a comprehensive home win against CD Mirandés

RCD Espanyol earned an important 3-0 win at home to CD Mirandés on Saturday.

Espanyol were looking to build on their strong home form at the Stage Front Stadium in front of the white-and-blue fans. Mirandés thought they had opened the scoring though it was quickly chalked off for offside, while at the other end Javi Puado had two solid chances that were denied by the goalkeeper and the side netting respectively.  

The opener would come from Espanyol and their top goalscorer in Martin Braithwaite: his free kick right on the edge of the box was deflected into the bottom corner, wrongfooting keeper Ramón Juan and putting the Mágico in front. Jofre Carreras almost doubled their lead from a tight angle but was just denied by the keeper, as it remained a one-goal advantage at the break.

Into the second half and both sides came close to getting on the scoresheet: Álvaro Sanz fresh off the bench for Mirandés fired his shot just wide of the post, while Sergi Gómez could not convert at close range from a corner. But Espanyol did find the second goal as Álvaro Aguado’s shot was saved and he followed it up with a header on the rebound.

Espanyol were in cruise control, with the visitors unable to find a response and the fans in full flow at the Temple. A penalty awarded for a handball by Houboulang Mendes was assumed by Braithwaite, who buried it hard and low to the keeper’s right for his second of the evening, Espanyol’s third and a vital three points in the promotion push.