From: michael seium (michael.seium@gmail.com)
Date: Mon Jan 26 2009 - 22:01:48 EST
Espanyol tie Valladolid 1-1 in La liga action on Sunday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJSp9XraIzA
Espanyol dropped to 19th place in the Primera Liga despite a respectable 1-1
draw at Real Valladolid. Swedish-Eritrean striker Henok Goitom headed
Valladolid ahead shortly before half-time, but Sergio Sanchez rescued a
point for relegation-threatened Espanyol 12 minutes into the game. Espanyol
came into this game without a league win since early November and were
lining up for the first time under new coach Mauricio Pochettino in the
league following last week's sacking of Mane.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJSp9XraIzA
Pochettino, who enjoyed two successful spells at Espanyol as a player, led
the Catalans to a 0-0 draw in his first match in charge on Wednesday - a
Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg against local rivals Barcelona at
Montjuic. But the former Argentina defender knows Primera Liga survival is
the key and told his players to go out with a positive attitude against
Valladolid. And given the Castilians' shocking recent form, he must have
been confident.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJSp9XraIzA
Valladolid looked good in November and December, but had lost their last
four league matches prior to this encounter and also crashed out of the Copa
del Rey earlier this month following a disappointing 4-3 aggregate loss to
promoted side Sporting Gijon. But Jose Luis Mendilibar's men began brightly
in this match and almost took the lead after four minutes, when Jonathan
Sesma drilled an angled drive just wide of the target from close-range.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJSp9XraIzA
Sanchez fired wide at the other end five minutes later for Espanyol from an
equally good position. Valladolid looked the more likely, though, and
created the majority of the chances in the first period. Goitom, Sesma and
Fabian Canobbio all squandered good opportunities as the home side dominated
proceedings. And they eventually did take the lead four minutes before
half-time, when Goitom headed Sesma's corner past Carlos Kameni from
close-range.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJSp9XraIzA
It was no more than Valladolid deserved and the home side continued to look
the better side after the break. Kameni produced fine saves from Sesma and
Pedro Leon, but also nearly gifted Valladolid a second when he made a meal
of a corner 10 minutes after the interval. But Espanyol, still missing key
forwards Raul Tamudo and Ivan De La Pena through injury, kept fighting and
received their reward 12 minutes from time, when Sanchez poked home after
Valladolid goalkeeper Justo Villar had failed to claim Luis Garcia's corner.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJSp9XraIzA
Leon and Cannobio both missed great chances to win it for Valladolid at the
death, but the home side had to be content with a point in the end. That
result at least stops the Castilians' disturbing losing streak. Valladolid
remain 12th, in the league while Espanyol drop one spot to 19th, but are now
just four points behind 17th-place Numancia. Perhaps more importantly, the
Barcelona-based side remain unbeaten in two games under new coach
Pochettino.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJSp9XraIzA
See you tube links for highlites and Henok Goitom's goal. Right place at the
right time.