Levante 2-0 Álaves: late Espi brace earns crucial victory in hosts’ fight for survivial | OneFootball

Carlos Espi’s late brace kept Levante’s hopes of La Liga survival alive after seeing off 10-men Alaves at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia to go within four points of safety.

In a game of two halves, Alaves looked the brighter and could have been clear by half time but failed to capitalise on sloppy defensive errors from Levante costing them dearly in the second half.

The hosts started the second half much brighter and this was then compounded with Víctor Parada seeing red and Espi’s double secured a crucial victory, while leaving the visitors just three points clear of the drop.

As it happened

Alaves started the brighter of the two sides controlling possession from the first minute. Their first chance of the match came after just 5 minutes when a defensive error by Ugo Raghouber was taken advantage of by Antonio Martinez. However, he failed to capitalise.

Levante had their biggest chance of the half in the 10th minute after Carlos Alvarez got on the end of Paco Cortes’ cross. Alvarez could only volley it over the bar from roughly eight yards out.

Both teams were sloppy in possession in the early stages of the game, and this was best highlighted by the former Arsenal and Brighton man, Mathew Ryan.

The Levante goalkeeper kicked the ball straight out of possession fairly unprovoked after 16 minutes.

Alaves man Victor Parada received the only booking of the first half in the 20th minute for what the referee deemed a late challenge. However, it came after a clear foul by Levante in an earlier passage of play.

Alavez continued to put pressure on Levante and Ryan was brought into action once more producing two good saves following the melee of a corner.

Levante continued to be the creators of their own problems as they gave the ball away once more on 26 minutes. Martinez shot not troubling Ryan too much.

Two minutes later Alaves had another chance when a cross went begging across the face of the Levante goal.

Alaves had their best chance of the half on 39 minutes when Carles Alena saw his effort blocked off the line. Alaves will have been left wondering how they were not winning by this point.

Levante’s Ivan Romero created a good chance for himself and forced a good save from Antonio Sivera in the Alaves goal in what was the last real chance of the half.

Alaves were left wondering how they were not leading the game at half time after having the lion’s share of chances and controlling possession throughout the first period.

However, it would be Levante who would start the second half quickest with Alvarez striking the post just two minutes into the half and just two minutes later they would have another chance. Cortes saw his shot blocked once and then deflected wide off his teammate.

Cortes then entered the referee’s book for his protests to a free kick being awarded against him believing Levante should have had one themselves prior to this.

Carlos Alvarez had provided the two closest moments for Levante but the man making his 100th appearance would be substituted after 57 minutes following what appeared to be a groin injury and was replaced by Carlos Espi.

Soon after, the game would change completely as Parada brought down Levante’s Kareem Tunde as he attempted to spin past the defender. He would receive a second yellow card and Alaves were left with 10 men.

Alaves manager, Eduardo Coudet, reacted by substituting striker Martinez for centre-back Facundo Garces. It was clear Alaves were happy to leave with a point from here.

The following ten minutes saw a flurry of chances for Levante. The most notable of these was a bouncing long thrown-in that was connected with by Jon Olasagasti and clawed off the line in an impressive save by Sivera.

Levante looked to push for a winner and manager Luis Castro made further substitutions in an effort to get the opener. Ivan Romero was replaced by Etta Eyong whilst Tunde came off for Iker Losada.

10 minutes later Castro would see his team get the opener. Second half substitute Carlos Espi’s initial header was blocked before falling back to him where he created space and managed to get his shot off.

His strike took a looping deflection leaving Sivera stranded in the Alaves goal with nothing he could do but watch Espi’s strike nestle in the back of the net.

The relief could be seen across the stadium as the entire team including goalkeeper Ryan and backroom staff celebrated the late goal.

7 minutes were added on for Alaves to get themselves an equaliser against the run of play, but in truth they looked out of the game and the one-way traffic continued.

Carlos Espi secured all three points for Levante in the last minute of additional time. Alaves had pushed for a winner leaving them exposed in defence and both second half substitutes Eyong and Espi linked up on the counter.

Espi securing all three points for Levante by slotting the ball between the keepers’ legs.