FIRST DIVISION FOOTBALL
28.04.09 - 15:09 -
SAVE. Aranzubia stopped Apoño's penalty kick going in the net. / SALVADOR SALAS
Match low down
Two pretty well matched teams came out onto the Malaga's La Rosaleda pitch on Saturday night and both were desperate to get one step closer to going to Europe. But it wasn't to be for either Malaga or Deportivo de la Coruña and the end result was a 1-1 draw.
In both halves of the game Malaga looked a bit unfocused for the first twenty minutes or so. However they later stepped things up and started to create chances.
Malaga went 1-0 up in the 32nd minute of the first half when Luque belted a free kick straight into the opposite corner of the net from just outside the box after the Deportivo goalkeeper, Aranzubia, had been fouled for picking the ball up outside his area.
Luque as always when he scores did his imitation of a bullfighter in front of the ecstatic crowd. However the match had to be interrupted for a second or two while security guards dealt with one over zealous fan who had jumped over the barriers onto the pitch to try to give the man of the match what looked like a bullfighter's cape - presumably in the hope that he would develop his performance more.
So Malaga went into half time ahead and looking good. But their lack of orientation at the beginning of the second half was taken advantage of when five minutes after the whistle had been blown Sergio levelled the scores for Deportivo with a header.
On and on both teams battled until all Malaga's dreams came true when Luque was fouled and they were awarded a penalty in the 88th minute of the match - or so they thought. Apoño, who hasn't missed a penalty all season having scored seven out of seven, kicked it hard and well but sadly the Deportivo goalkeeper Aranzubia was able to suss out where it was going and denied Malaga a precious three points.
Still in seventh place in the league table and one point behind Atlético Madrid, Malaga play away to Numancia on Saturday. The match kicks off at 8 p.m. and will be shown on La Sexta Spanish television channel.
For confirmation on dates and times and information on transport to home games call Ken on 646 609 320 or 952 772 814 or visit the Supporters Club web site www.malagafootballenglish.com.
In both halves of the game Malaga looked a bit unfocused for the first twenty minutes or so. However they later stepped things up and started to create chances.
Malaga went 1-0 up in the 32nd minute of the first half when Luque belted a free kick straight into the opposite corner of the net from just outside the box after the Deportivo goalkeeper, Aranzubia, had been fouled for picking the ball up outside his area.
Luque as always when he scores did his imitation of a bullfighter in front of the ecstatic crowd. However the match had to be interrupted for a second or two while security guards dealt with one over zealous fan who had jumped over the barriers onto the pitch to try to give the man of the match what looked like a bullfighter's cape - presumably in the hope that he would develop his performance more.
So Malaga went into half time ahead and looking good. But their lack of orientation at the beginning of the second half was taken advantage of when five minutes after the whistle had been blown Sergio levelled the scores for Deportivo with a header.
On and on both teams battled until all Malaga's dreams came true when Luque was fouled and they were awarded a penalty in the 88th minute of the match - or so they thought. Apoño, who hasn't missed a penalty all season having scored seven out of seven, kicked it hard and well but sadly the Deportivo goalkeeper Aranzubia was able to suss out where it was going and denied Malaga a precious three points.
Still in seventh place in the league table and one point behind Atlético Madrid, Malaga play away to Numancia on Saturday. The match kicks off at 8 p.m. and will be shown on La Sexta Spanish television channel.
For confirmation on dates and times and information on transport to home games call Ken on 646 609 320 or 952 772 814 or visit the Supporters Club web site www.malagafootballenglish.com.
