A last-gasp header from Marcos Fernández earned RCD Espanyol a important point in a dramatic 1-1 draw with Sevilla. The defender nodded in his own rebound in the 98th minute to cancel out Stassin's 85th-minute opener, as reported by La Vanguardia Deportes on Saturday at a packed RCDE Stadium with 30,475 fans in attendance.
Manolo González's side, who face their next league fixture away to Osasuna on September 12, avoided a third consecutive defeat with the result. It leaves Espanyol 14th in the La Liga standings, with 3 points from 3 games, a record of one win and two losses. The team has scored 5 goals and conceded 4 so far this season.
How did the match unfold?
The game, officiated by Sesma Espinosa, was a cagey affair in the first half with few clear chances. Twenty-two-year-old Javi Hernández tested the goalkeeper with a third-minute free-kick saved by Vlachodimos. The dynamics shifted after the break. In the 56th minute, Sevilla defender Sangante was shown a straight red card for a foul on Edu Expósito, forcing his team to play with ten men for over 40 minutes.
Despite the numerical advantage, Espanyol struggled to create meaningful opportunities. Omar El Hilali even had a goal ruled out for offside. The night seemed to turn sour when, against the run of play, substitute Belgian forward Stassin fired past Dmitrovic from outside the box in the 85th minute. The goal appeared to seal the three points for the visitors.
Who was the hero of the night?
Just when all hope seemed lost, Marcos Fernández emerged. The player, who had come on in the 60th minute replacing Cala, had already seen a goal disallowed by VAR earlier. In the final action of the match, a cross into the box found his head. His initial header crashed against the crossbar, but he reacted fastest to nod the rebound into the net, sparking wild celebrations at the RCDE Stadium.
"If against Madrid a point flew away in the last breath, against Sevilla added time smiled on us to get something positive from what would have been a very painful result," said Manolo González after the match, which was his 100th in charge of the team. The coach also welcomed back defender Cabrera from a suspension that kept him out of the first three matchdays.
What changes did the managers make?
Manolo González turned to his bench in the second half. Besides introducing Marcos Fernández, he brought on Urko for Moscardo also on the hour mark. Later, in the 75th minute, Bryan Zaragoza replaced El Hilali, making his official debut for the club. A double substitution in the 86th minute saw Riedel and Hartman enter the fray for Unai Núñez and Hinojo, with Hartman also making his first appearance.
For Sevilla, manager Luis García Plaza made his first changes in the 54th minute, bringing on Fofana and Stassin for Angoumé and Robbie Ure. Castrín replaced Ejuke in the 61st, and in the 71st, Bueno and Carmona came on for Guridi and Miguel Sierra. Espanyol now prepare to face an Osasuna side sitting sixth in the table, with Andoni Gorosabel confirmed on the injuries list.
What does this point mean for the season?
The point snatched at the death provides a vital boost for an Espanyol side that had fallen six points behind leaders Barcelona. Although the performance with an extra player for so long raised questions, the character shown in the dying moments builds morale ahead of the trip to El Sadar. The team must now work on improving its attacking creativity, an aspect fans can track in our detailed team stats. The next test, away to Osasuna on September 12, presents another tough challenge on the road.
