Sunday 4th January 2009
Venue: San Mames
Kick-off: 16:00
Score: 1 – 1
Espanyol failed to move out of the bottom three after conceding a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao in the Primera Liga on Sunday.
Moises Hurtado put the Barcelona-based side in front eight minutes before half-time and the Catalans looked likely to hold on for an important victory until they were denied by Andoni Iraola’s brilliant late leveller.
Espanyol began the day in 18th place following a dismal run of results at the end of last year.
The Catalans began the season with back-to-back wins, but had won just once since then and recently parted company with coach Bartolome Marquez.
He was replaced by Mane in December, but the new man had yet to spark a revival prior to this game, picking up just one point from his first three matches in charge.
But the new Espanyol coach – who saved Athletic from the drop in a similar situation two seasons back – was positive ahead of this game.
Deprived of his two most talented forwards, playmaker Ivan De La Pena and striker Raul Tamudo, Mane paired Luis Garcia and Ferran Corominas together up front.
But the pair saw hardly any of the ball early on as Athletic dominated the opening exchanges.
The first real chance of the match came after 15 minutes, when Pablo Orbaiz crossed for Fernando Amorebieta, but the defender sent his shot sailing over the bar.
Athletic had spent much of the season hovering just above the drop zone, but moved up to the relative heights of 12th place following back-to-back wins prior to the winter break.
And a third consecutive success looked very much on the cards as the Basque side continued to boss the game.
Fernando Llorente headed wide after 18 minutes and Javi Martinez crashed a shot against the angle of post and bar not long after that.
But Espanyol began to enjoy more of the possession and Nene forced Gorka Iraizoz into a fine save after 36 minutes.
And from the resulting corner, the visitors went ahead when Moises Hurtado rose to glance a header past Iraizoz and in off the woodwork from Luis Garcia’s centre.
It was a sweet moment for the defensive midfielder, who has received criticism for his displays this season and may see his place come under threat if – as looks likely – Espanyol seal the signing of Mexico international Gerardo Torrado in the next few days.
Espanyol almost went two up on the stroke of half-time, but Iraizoz just managed to keep out Nene’s dangerous free-kick.
Substitute Joseba Etxeberria flashed a venomous ball across the six-yard box as Athletic sought an equaliser in the second period, but there was nobody to apply the finishing touch and Espanyol survived.
Athletic began to attack with more intensity as the game wore on and Gaizka Toquero – recently recalled from a loan spell at Eibar – should have equalised after 70 minutes, but sent a tame header straight at Espanyol keeper Carlos Kameni.
Moises almost doubled Espanyol’s lead four minutes later with another glancing header, but Iraola hacked the ball off the line.
The Catalans were also defending in numbers and it was going to take something special for Athletic to come back now.
The moment of inspiration duly arrived for the hosts with nine minutes remaining, when Iraola controlled the ball with his chest on the edge of the area and unleashed a brilliant scissor-kick which gave Kameni no chance.
It was no less than the Basques deserved and set up an exciting conclusion to an entertaining match.
Buoyed by the goal and aided by their vocal support, the home side pressed for a late winner, but they had to be content with a point which sees them drop a place to 13th.
Espanyol remain in 18th and are now two points from safety.
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