Late drama turns the tide at Mestalla
On the final day of 2021, Espanyol walked out of Valencia's Mestalla stadium with a 2‑1 victory that snapped their season‑long struggle to win away from Barcelona. The match unfolded as a tactical stalemate in the first half, with both sides testing each other's defenses while staying patient. Espanyol's organized back line limited Valencia to a single chance: a Hugo Duro header that clanged off Diego López's right post.
Just before the break, Espanyol appealed for a handball by Correia, but the referee waved it away and VAR chose not to intervene, denying the Pericos a potential penalty.
Substitutes ignite the comeback
The second half began explosively. Raúl de Tomás fired a powerful shot just eleven seconds after kickoff, his attempt soaring over the goalkeeper and the crossbar. Valencia, however, grabbed the lead in the 51st minute when Alderete headed home from a set‑piece.
Coach José Luis Martínez then shook up the lineup, introducing Javi Puado and later the young talent RDT. Their fresh legs unsettled Valencia keeper Jasper Cillessen, who found himself dealing with several hurried attempts.
The decisive moment arrived when academy graduate Jofre Carreras made his LaLiga debut. Within minutes he was brought down by Hugo Duro, earning a penalty and prompting a second yellow that saw Duro dismissed. Raúl de Tomás stepped up and calmly slotted the spot‑kick, leveling the score at 1‑1.
Buoyed by the equaliser, Carreras delivered a pinpoint cross into the box. Puado timed his run perfectly, rose above the defenders, and headed the ball past Cillessen to make it 2‑1. The final minutes saw Valencia press for an equaliser, with Iranzo's effort rattling the crossbar, but Espanyol held firm to secure their first away win of the campaign and finish the year on a high note.
6 Comments
Emily Nguyen
September 24, 2025 AT 16:09 PMThat penalty call was pure textbook. Jofre Carreras didn't just make his debut-he announced himself. Duro's second yellow was inevitable after that reckless challenge. This win isn't just about three points; it's a statement that Espanyol's academy is finally producing players who can handle pressure. Puado's header? Pure instinct. No fancy footwork, just timing and guts. They've been waiting for this moment all season.
Ruben Figueroa
September 25, 2025 AT 19:52 PMLmao 🤡 they got lucky. Valencia were asleep at the wheel. That 'comeback'? More like a gift from the refs and a goalkeeper who forgot how to stand up. Duro didn't even touch Carreras-he just sneezed near him. And don't even get me started on the 'academy hero' nonsense. One goal doesn't make a legend. 🤷♂️
Gabriel Clark
September 26, 2025 AT 04:35 AMThe tactical discipline displayed by Espanyol in the second half was remarkable. Coach Martínez's substitutions were not merely reactive but strategically calibrated to exploit Valencia's fatigue. Javi Puado's movement off the ball, in particular, demonstrated a profound understanding of spatial awareness. This victory underscores the importance of youth development in modern football, especially when executed with composure under pressure.
Elizabeth Price
September 26, 2025 AT 17:20 PMWait-hold on-let me get this straight: Duro was sent off for a penalty he didn't even commit? And yet, somehow, the referee still gave it? That’s not just bad officiating-that’s a systemic failure of the entire VAR protocol! And why is everyone acting like Puado’s header was some kind of miracle? He’s been scoring from corners since U14s! This team’s lucky they didn’t get a red for diving earlier!
Steve Cox
September 27, 2025 AT 11:48 AMThey deserved it. No more, no less.
Aaron Leclaire
September 28, 2025 AT 08:46 AMI’ve seen this movie before. One win, and suddenly everyone’s calling them a rising force. They’re still bottom half. This doesn’t change anything. Don’t get carried away.