Espanyol avoid disaster in five-goal thriller against downtrodden RCD Mallorca | OneFootball

Espanyol 3-2 RCD Mallorca

Espanyol remained unbeaten against Mallorca in a five-goal thriller on Monday night at the RCDE Stadium, a clash that was much more exciting than Espanyol fans might have felt was necessary.

The game began without too much incident, but Espanyol looking the more comfortable both with the setting, in front of their home support, and the scenario, without the pressure facing their opponents. Los Pericos did not create much in the way of clear chances though, until Pere Milla stole a march on Marash Kumbulla in then box, and finished at the near post following a cross from Carlos Romero on the left, unchallenged.

That was halfway through the first period, and with 10 minutes to go, Espanyol placed themselves in firm control of the match. This time it was Tyrhrs Dolan’s cross that Mallorca goalkeeper Leo Roman could not anticipate, and that left Roberto Fernandez with an open goal to bundle the ball into.

Los Bermellones had just started to gain some momentum at that point, and it looked as if Jagoba Arrasate was set for a tricky team talk, before it was eased by the hosts. Omar El-Hilali brought Mateo Joseph down from a set piece, setting up Vedat Muriqi to send Marko Dmitrovic the wrong way from the penalty spot. That was in the final minute of the half, but in stoppage time, Milla’s dissent earned him a red card from the referee, tipping the scales of the match.

Marko Dmitrovic and Kike Garcia blot out Mallorca comeback

Image via RCDE

Mallorca, with defender Kumbulla off and winger Jan Virgili on, forced two early saves from Dmitrovic courtesy of shots from Muriqi and Joseph, an early sign of intent. Now a man up, Mallorca began to apply significant pressure, and Muriqi made it pay with his second, beating El-Hilali in the air to head back across goal and in off the post.

Manolo Gonzalez’s side were not done either, with Dolan still making inroads on the break. An Espanyol corner was headed off the bar from Leandro Cabrera too, as Los Pericos did their best to escape that pressure. For the final 15 minutes their charge was led by Kike Garcia, and when his pass from left found Dolan, Antonio Raillo couldn’t resist giving him a shove on his way. Garcia made the resulting penalty count, squeezing it under Roman to give Los Pericos a late and dramatic lead with 10 minutes remaining.

There was still time for Muriqi to fire wide a late hat-trick opportunity, but it was the safe hands of Dmitrovic and the ambition with 10-men that won it for Espanyol in the second half. Manolo Gonzalez will be relieved having had to line up what would have been a furious tirade had they dropped points from two goals up. His side sit third, on ten points and level with Barcelona, ahead of a trip to league leaders Real Madrid.

Arrasate’s problems multiply. It looked as if Mallorca may have a turning point to build on after Muriqi’s second, but having given up their comeback in relatively tame fashion, the errors of recent weeks remain at the forefront of the mind. Los Bermellones remain with just a point from their opening four games in 19th.