Saturday, September 20, 2014

Malaga's Duda denied Espanyol its first win with a late free kick 2-2


Espanyol 2-2 Malaga
A brilliant stoppage-time free-kick from Duda earned Malaga a 2-2 draw at Espanyol as they twice came from behind to snatch a point.
Duda curled a beautiful effort into the top corner from 25 yards, a matter of minutes after Christian Stuani's header looked to have won it for the hosts.
The late strike denied Espanyol a first La Liga win of the season and left them second bottom of the standings.
Earlier Felipe Caicedo had opened the scoring for Espanyol, with Ignacio Camacho levelling shortly after the break.
The home side came into the contest with just one point from their opening three matches, but took the lead with the first real chance of the game after 16 minutes.
Caicedo ran on to a through-ball from Sergio Garcia, rounded goalkeeper Carlos Kameni and tapped the ball in. Juanmi fired wide from inside the area as Malaga sought a response, but at the other end Garcia almost made it two heading wide from a corner.
Alvaro also headed wide as Espanyol threatened again from a corner before the break, but the hosts were undone by a dead ball eight minutes into the second half.
Luis Alberto swung over a corner from the right and Camacho defied the attentions of opposition defenders to power home a header.
Kameni parried away a Lucas shot, but could do nothing two minutes from time when Lucas sent in a free-kick which Stuani headed into the net.
Espanyol celebrations were short-lived, though, as Malaga again fought back to rescue a point.
It was a piece of individual brilliance from Duda that earned it as he curled a free-kick from right of centre with his left foot into the near top corner.