Espanyol take narrow quarterfinal lead against Mirandes

Madrid - Spanish Primera Liga side Espanyol scored three goals in the last five minutes to take a slender one-goal advantage in their first-leg quarterfinal Copa del Rey tie against Segunda B (third tier) side Mirandes.

Vladimir Weiss, Rui Fonte and Joan Verdu scored the late goals Tuesday to save Espanyol the blushes against a side that plays two levels below them.

The visitors had already knocked La Liga clubs Villarreal and Racing Santander out of the competition in the previous rounds and looked to be on their way to a third shock before the dramatic end to the game.

Alain Arroyo stunned the home fans with a goal for Mirandes after 27 minutes. The striker had already had an appeal for a penalty turned down by the referee. But he was on target, when he received a pass in the Espanyol penalty area to beat Kiko Casilla with a low shot.

Espanyol were clearly stunned and their first reply had to wait until early in the second half when Koffi Ndri Romaric rattled the visitors’ post with a powerful shot.

The rest of the half saw Espanyol try to put pressure on the Mirandes defence, but although the visitors were pegged back Espanyol’ best efforts were crosses into the penalty area and they were unable to produce many direct shots on goal.

Pablo Infante looked to have sealed the win after 78 minutes when he scored a fine solo goal, but seven minutes later Weiss gave Espanyol hope with an individual effort.

Two minutes later Fonte scored the equaliser much to the joy of the home fans, Verdu netted a left foot shot to give his team an unlikely lead in the next week’s return leg.

- IANS