Malaga 1 - 1 Espanyol: Controversial penalty helps Malaga draw with Espanyol
Posted Monday, April 04, 2016 by PA
Malaga benefited from a contentious penalty decision as they battled out a 1-1 draw with Espanyol at Estadio La Rosaleda.
The visitors complained heartily when referee Juan Martinez pointed to the spot following a challenge by Victor Sanchez on Juanpi in the box.
But it was to no avail, with Duje Cop converting the resulting opportunity from 12 yards in the 45th minute, cancelling out Pape Diop's 11th-minute opener in the Primera Division encounter.
Diop netted for the second successive game as he took advantage of some half-hearted Malaga defending to meet Marco Asensio's corner with a firm header past Guillermo Ochoa.
Espanyol looked to keep up the pressure after that as Ruben Duarte had a shot blocked, before Cop sent a tame header wide at the other end.
The home side struggled to pose much threat, but they were then level thanks to Martinez's controversial call.
Sanchez undoubtedly made contact with Juanpi as the Malaga man received the ball in the area with his back to goal, but the way the latter then went down seemed a little theatrical.
Martinez deemed it a foul and Cop made the most, sending Pau Lopez the wrong way.
Neither side managed much in their search for a winner after the break, with Malaga coming closest late on when Charles was well denied by Pau.
Malaga's European hopes look to be fading, while Espanyol are eight points clear of the relegation zone.
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