Sport » Soccer » General
FC MALAGA COME OH SO CLOSE
Michael Coy / 2009-11-29 14:19:10
The struggling Costa del Sol club was denied a sensational victory over high-fliers Sevilla on Saturday night as the Champions’ League qualifiers came back from 2-0 down to secure the draw.
The Andalucia derby on the night of Sunday 29 November was a classic tale of two cities. Sevilla are currently lying third in the Liga, two points behind Real Madrid and one behind Barcelona. The club has just secured passage to the knockout stage of the Champions’ League, and is favourite to win Group G.
Malaga, on the other hand, is a team going nowhere. After a convincing win against Atletico Madrid on the opening day of the season, the “blanquiazul” have taken only four points out of a possible 33. Before this derby clash, the malagueños had spent the entire season in bottom place.
Sevilla started brightly, with Brazilian Fabiano providing a sweet back-heel pass with his back to goal, sending Negredo through, but the Malaga keeper blocked the shot. It was Fabiano again who menaced the visitors’ goal, sending a header over the bar from a lovely cross by midfielder Jesus Navaz.
But from this point on, right up to half-time, it was Malaga who threatened. The blanquiazul won a lot of dead-ball opportunities, and the Portuguese Duda, a former Sevilla player, was a constant menace. Indeed, it was from a Duda corner that Fernando headed the visitors into the lead after 23 minutes. Sevilla continued to counter-attack, with that fast-flowing style which has brought them so much success, but the best they could manage before the interval was another Fabiano header, which struck the Malaga post. The Pizjuan Stadium was stunned into silence when Duda shot across the keeper from the left to put the visitors two up on the stroke of half-time. It looked like a sensation was in the offing.
But alas for Malaga, it wasn’t to be. Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez sent out Frederic Kanoute for the second half, and the 32-year-old Frenchman galvanized the home team´s attack, freeing-up Fabiano to spectacular effect. Two neat goals from the Brazilian, on 58 and 73 minutes, squared the score and denied Malaga a memorable victory.
Still it isn’t all bad for Malaga. The point has lifted them out of the drop zone, leapfrogging over Racing Club of Santander, Atletico Madrid and Xerez. Four clubs now contest the three relegation places, all on seven points.
Sevilla 2 Malaga 2
AT THE SANCHEZ PIZJUAN STADIUM, SEVILLE ATTENDANCE: 35,000
SEVILLA: all white, black socks MALAGA: all-blue shirts, black shorts, white socks
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