Espanyol 1 : 2 Sporting de Gijon - Menendez's late winner earns Sporting Gijon victory - 7M sport

Espanyol 1 : 2 Sporting de Gijon - Menendez's late winner earns Sporting Gijon victory



Posted Sunday, October 04, 2015 by PA

A last-gasp winner from Alex Menendez saw Sporting Gijon beat Espanyol 2-1 and pick up their second win of the season.

The winger restored the visitors' lead in stoppage time after Felipe Caicedo had cancelled out Alen Halilovic's first-half wonder-goal, taking Sporting up to 10th place in the Primera Division table, just one point behind the Catalans.

The Asturians had most of the ball in the early stages, with Halilovic the architect of their attacking play.

It was no surprise that it was the Croatian who put the visitors in front. Right-back and captain Lora dispossessed Victor Alvarez in midfield and the ball fell into the path of Halilovic, who took one touch before sending the ball spinning high into the net from 25 yards.

Espanyol were presented with a way back into the game on 26 minutes when Caicedo was felled by Bernardo, but the Ecuadorian's spot-kick was well saved by Alberto Garcia.

In the second half Sporting's Roma loanee Antonio Sanabria missed a gilt-edged chance to double his side's advantage, hitting the crossbar from close range, and Espanyol went straight down the other end levelled.

Ruben Duarte made it to the left byline and cut the ball into the six yard box for Caicedo to meet and compensate for his earlier penalty miss.

However, Sporting recovered from this blow and nicked the three points at the death.

Thirty seconds after the two minutes of added time had elapsed, Menendez raced forward to meet a low cross from substitute Pablo Perez, taking one touch to control before arrowing low into the bottom corner.



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