Espanyol once again left the island empty-handed after a match that was controlled throughout, but lacking the finishing touch.
Espanyol is loyal to their Island jinx. The blue and white squad once again left Mallorca with zero points, replicating last years match at the Iberostar Stadium when the Bermellones scored thanks to an own goal from a Perico player and on this occasion after a rebound from the bar.
The commencement of this 11pm “after hours” match started with a frenetic pace, giving the impression that both sides wanted to finish as soon as possible. It was rather a peculiar fact a match which started on Saturday but ended on Sunday, especially considering it was the start match of the league 2012-2013. The first sign of danger was a Tomer header on the 58 second mark but the Perico goalie Cristian saved with his body. A few minutes later, Tomer was more effective and scored the Islanders’ first goal after a move which he himself produced in the blue and white half.
Espanyol remained calm, moved the ball from one end to the other until Wakaso, on the right wing, received a ball served by Cristian Gómez. The Ghanaian player overpassed Antonio López and beat Aouate. The draw did not calm anyone down and showed once more that both sides were still lacking match time and, as it appears, the absence of main players to finish completing their respective squads. If Mallorca were short of full backs, our team reached this first match with the most unfortunate evidence of missing three essential players, one per line. The ball moved from one area to the other and both Cristian and Aouate were repeatedly put to the test. Ximo, Albín, Víctor Casadesús as well as Alvaro on several occasions, tried to surprise both keepers forcing them to produce fine saves before half time.
The second half started on a quieter note with both teams being methodically positioned on the pitch, in a less attacking frame of mind. However, after a corner kick, a Nunes header hit the bar. In order to wrestle control by the local side, Wakaso tried a long range shot which forced Aouate to put himself in place. Victor Casadesús then repeated exactly the same thing for Mallorca and his shot – fortunately for Espanyol – was off target.
Then, both teams started to introduce substitutes. Due to the intense heat, the rhythm of the game steadily decreased, as did the performance quality. Only a move between lines by Marc Fernández managed to reawaken the fans interest who were also feeling rather heated due to the high temperature.
The match descended into uneventful conformity and not much occurred except for a long range shot by Verdú, which hit the post. But the following action resulted in the goal that would seal a home win: Pereira’s shot hit the cross bar and rebounded and who else than Tomer, who, close to our goal, scored again. From that moment onwards, Mallorca limited to defending their slender advantage by playing close to their keeper, a strategy which paid dividends.
Match stats:
RCD Mallorca: Aouate, Ximo, Nunes, Bigas, Antonio López, Pina (Martí, min.80), Javi Márquez (Joao, min.55), Nsue (Marc Fernández, min.72), Pereira, Víctor and Hemed.
RCD Espanyol: Cristian Álvarez, Victor Sánchez, Forlín, Alvaro (Rui Fonte, min.63), Verdú, H. Moreno, Javi López, Albín, Capdevila, Wakaso (Cristian Alfonso, min.68) and Cristian Gómez (Tejera, min.80).
Goals: 1-0: Hemed (min.2); 1-1: Wakaso (min.6); 2-1: Hemed (min.85).
Referee: Undiano Mallenco (Navarra). Yellow cards to Nunes (min.32), Nsue (min.37), Víctor Sánchez (min.61), Wakaso (min.63) and Martí.
PERICOZ - RCD Espanyol Supporters Club (Australia) 