Cordoba C.F. 0 : 0 Espanyol - Cordoba still looking for first win

Posted Monday, September 29, 2014 by PA

Cordoba remain bottom of the Primera Division and still without a win in their return to the top flight after being held to a goalless draw at home to Espanyol.

The hosts showed more ambition to win the game than Sergio Gonzalez's side but only managed four attempts on Kiko Casilla's goal, and on each occasion the goalkeeper was up to the task.

Albert Ferrer made five changes to the team that was beaten 3-0 by Valencia in midweek and could once again count on the flair of Fede Cartabia, who was unable to feature against his parent club at the Mestalla.

The Argentinian forward came closest to breaking the deadlock, hammering a free-kick at goal in the second half but Casilla got across to parry the ball away.

Espanyol travelled to Andalusia after beating Getafe 2-0 in midweek to get their first win of the season but rarely looked like taking the three points at the Nuevo Arcangel stadium.

In the first half defender Diego Colotto appeared at the far post to meet a cross but was unable to convert, and claimed he had been held back by a Cordoba defender.

Ferrer's side created more opportunities but lacked quality up front, with Algeria international Nabil Ghilas proving no more an improvement on Mike Havenaar, who he has replaced as the coach's first-choice frontman.

Cordoba defender Aleksandar Pantic headed home a free-kick with 16 minutes remaining and celebrated wildly thinking he could have won his side the game, but was then brought down to earth by the linesman's flag.

But although Espanyol spent most of the second half defending in their own half, they could have won the game with eight minutes remaining.

Colotto found space to shoot at goal from outside the area, but Juan Carlos eventually caught the ball despite struggling to hold onto the shot at first.