Espanyol salvaged a draw against Sevilla with a stoppage-time equaliser after the visitors had taken the lead despite being reduced to 10 players.
The match was part of the fourth round of the Spanish championship and was played on Sunday, with neither side able to establish control during a closely fought first half.
Both teams had opportunities before the interval, but the contest remained evenly balanced. Neither Espanyol nor Sevilla dominated possession of the game sufficiently to create a clear advantage, and the score stayed level at half-time.
Sevilla emerged from the break looking the more threatening of the two sides. The visitors showed greater attacking intent after the interval, but they struggled to turn that improvement into a goal and could not find a way past Espanyol’s defence.
The home side also created chances as the match progressed. However, Espanyol were unable to make the most of their openings, with their finishing preventing them from taking control of the result.
Sevilla’s task became more difficult in the 56th minute when Arona Sangante was sent off, leaving the visitors to play the remainder of the match with 10 men. Despite their numerical disadvantage, Sevilla continued to threaten and eventually broke the deadlock late in the game.
Lucas Stassin put Sevilla in front in the 86th minute, scoring the goal that appeared to have secured an impressive away result for the reduced visitors. Sevilla had managed to withstand Espanyol’s pressure and had then taken advantage of one of their opportunities at the other end.
Espanyol, though, continued to search for a response and were rewarded in added time. Marcos Fernandez found the net to level the match and prevent the hosts from suffering defeat.
The late goal meant Sevilla’s effort with 10 players did not result in victory, while Espanyol avoided losing after falling behind in the closing stages. The teams therefore shared the points after a match in which Sevilla improved after half-time, survived Sangante’s dismissal and moved ahead through Stassin, only for Fernandez to restore parity at the last moment.