Marcos Fernández snatched a dramatic late point for RCD Espanyol with a 98th-minute equaliser against Sevilla FC. The substitute striker scored after a double save from the opposition goalkeeper, cancelling out Lucas Stassin's debut goal for Sevilla in a 1-1 draw at the RCDE Stadium.
The match, played on Sunday, September 6th and officiated by referee Miguel Sesma Espinosa, was first reported by El País Deportes. The result gives Espanyol their fourth point of the La Liga season, placing them 11th in the standings with a record of one win, one draw, and two losses from their opening four fixtures.
How did the late drama unfold?
Sevilla took the lead in the 84th minute through Lucas Stassin, who scored on his official debut for the Andalusian club. The match had been heavily influenced by the 55th-minute red card shown to Sevilla defender Arouna Sangante for a foul on Roberto. Espanyol had earlier seen a goal from Omar el Hilali ruled out for offside in the 61st minute.
The home side's fightback culminated in stoppage time. In a heart-stopping sequence, Greek goalkeeper Vlachodimos produced a spectacular double save in the 94th minute, first denying Fernández and then the follow-up from Zaragoza. The ball, however, fell back to Marcos Fernández, who made no mistake with his second attempt to secure the 1-1 draw. DAZN España captured the team's spirit on social media: "¡DICEN QUE NUNCA SE RINDE! 🔴".
What does this point mean for the season?
The last-gasp point keeps Espanyol in mid-table. The Periquitos have scored six goals and conceded five so far this campaign, giving them a +1 goal difference. The gap to the top, however, is significant, with leaders Barcelona eight points ahead of the Catalan side.
Manager Manolo González utilised his bench with five substitutions, introducing Urko, Fernández, Zaragoza, Riedel, and Hartman in search of a comeback. The squad heads into the next matchday with Andoni Gorosabel confirmed as unavailable, an update that can be tracked on the club's injuries page.
What's next for RCD Espanyol?
The immediate schedule takes the team to Pamplona to face CA Osasuna on Saturday, September 12th. Their opponent currently sits in 8th place, making it another challenging fixture in the early part of the season. Full schedule details are available on the fixtures page.
This injury-time draw provides a morale boost ahead of a week of preparation. Espanyol showed the character to fight until the final whistle, a trait they will need to replicate throughout a campaign where every point matters. The match against Osasuna presents the next opportunity to secure a full three points.
