Malaga 2 : 1 Espanyol - Malaga end losing run - 7M sport

Malaga 2 : 1 Espanyol - Malaga end losing run



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Posted Sunday, October 30, 2011 by PA

Malaga ended a run of three successive defeats in the Primera Division with a 2-1 victory over Espanyol, although a controversial penalty decision settled the contest at La Rosaleda.

The home side went in front early on through Jose Salomon Rondon, only for Alvaro Vazquez to equalise at the end of the first half.

But a contentious handball decision enabled Antonio Apono to restore Malaga's lead, and they kept their noses in front for the rest of the match to end a three-match winning run for their Barcelona-based opponents.

Malaga were in front with just five minutes on the clock. Sergio Duda fired a long ball forward to Nacho Monreal, who passed into the area for Rondon to despatch a shot into the bottom right corner.

Espanyol threatened an equaliser five minutes later from Raul Rodriguez, who met a corner from Vladimir Weiss but could only direct his header into the arms of Malaga goalkeeper Willy Caballero.

The home side had a similar chance three minutes later with Santi Cazorla's free-kick headed goalwards by Martin Demichelis, but Espanyol goalkeeper Cristian Alvarez took the ball safely.

Alvarez was tested again by Rondon on the half-hour mark, and this time looked a little less convincing in parrying a drilled effort from the edge of the area.

Espanyol survived another scare after 36 minutes when a dangerous ball into the area from Cazorla was sliced narrowly over his own crossbar by Espanyol defender Rodriguez.

Malaga continued to carve out chances and Joris Mathijsen should have done better with a header from Duda's corner which the Dutchman nodded wide.

And Espanyol were back on level terms seconds before half-time. Weiss whipped a free-kick into a crowded penalty area, where the ball was met with a diving header from Vazquez low into the net.

Malaga reasserted their authority in the second half with Alvarez doing well to tip a shot from Monreal round the post, before Mathijsen prodded a corner from Duda wide of the mark.

Espanyol responded to the pressure with a lovely run into the area from Vazquez and a subsequent left-footed strike, which produced a brilliant diving save from Caballero.

Alvarez was equally impressive at the other end after 72 minutes, turning away Joaquin's strike with his legs.

But in the ensuing passage of play, a ball back into the area was adjudged to have hit the hand of N'Dri Romaric by the referee, who pointed to the spot.

Replays suggested the ball had actually caught Romaric in the face, but his protests were waved away and Apono stepped up to slam home the penalty.

The home side could have added another four minutes from time but Joaquin's 12-yard effort was tipped over the bar by Alvarez.



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