Getafe 1-1 Espanyol: Espanyol stay on course for Champions League finish
Saturday 18 February 2012
Miku (pen) 69 – Alvaro 65
Estadio Coliseum Alfonso Perez, Getafe, Madrid
Espanyol earned a valuable draw against a gallant Getafe side that had impressed for much of the game at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez. The draw keeps Los Periquitos in contention for a Champions League place and leaves Getafe firmly in the mid-table pack.
Neither side was able to manage a shot on target in a dull first half. Romaric fired wide from a free-kick early on and the Sevilla loanee had a further chance to put Espanyol ahead when he was put through by Thievy Bifouma, but was off-target again. Argentine defender Cata Diaz headed the home side’s best chance wide from Abdel Barrada’s corner.
Alvaro Vazquez, a half-time replacement for the ineffective Kalu Uche, put Espanyol ahead on 65 minutes, latching on to a pass from Hector Moreno and beating goalkeeper Moya from close range. The lead lasted barely four minutes, Venezuelan striker Miku equalising for Getafe from the spot after he was fouled in the area by Thievy.
Tempers flared in an eventful second half and the visitors were reduced to 10 men on 81 minutes when Ernesto Galan received a second yellow card from referee Mateu Lahoz, but Getafe failed to make their numerical advantage count and Mauricio Pochettino’s men held on for a point.
Getafe (4-4-2) : Moya; Torres, Diaz, Lopo (Rafa 50, Rodriguez 64), Mane; Barrada, Casquero (Arizmendi 83), Lacen, Gavillan; Guiza, Miku. Unused subs: Castro, Perez, Sarabia
Espanyol (4-2-3-1) :: Casilla; Galan, Rodriguez, Moreno, Lopez (Forlin 21); Baena, Romaric; Thievy, Coutinho, Weiss (Amat 83); Uche (Alvaro 46). Unused subs: Edgar, Forlin, Alfonso, Gomez, Fonte
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