Herrero the penalty-saving hero as Malaga CF safe dramatic last-minute derby draw – CSN

Malaga CF delivered one other thrilling efficiency to earn an important level in a dramatic 2-2 draw towards Granada at Los Cármenes on Friday night time.

The match, marked by late objectives and a vital penalty save from goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero, noticed the guests prolong their unbeaten run, a lot to the delight of their travelling followers.

The primary half belonged to the guests, who dominated possession and probabilities, maintaining Granada on the again foot for giant intervals. Nevertheless, regardless of their superiority, Sergio Pellicer’s facet had been unable to transform alternatives into objectives, with Rahmani and Antoñito each coming shut however being denied by Granada’s goalkeeper, Marc Martínez.

Granada, nonetheless reeling from their latest relegation from La Liga, struggled all through the primary 45 minutes, and frustration was palpable among the many dwelling crowd. The hosts had been restricted to uncommon counter-attacks, none of which really examined Herrero.

Regardless of the Malaga’s dominance, their incapability to complete proved expensive. Granada returned to the pitch with renewed vitality after the break and rapidly turned the tide. Within the forty ninth minute, a cross from the precise discovered its solution to the far publish, the place Carlos Neva lashed the ball on the volley previous Herrero to open the scoring.

Swift response

Nevertheless, Malaga’s response was swift. Simply 4 minutes later, Antoñito capitalised on an error by the Granada keeper, curling the ball in on the close to publish from a decent angle to revive parity. The aim was at least Malaga deserved for his or her earlier management of the sport.

That stated, Granada, buoyed by their dwelling assist, pressed for a winner and so they thought they discovered it by means of Myrto Uzuni within the 81st minute. A floated cross to the again publish was headed again throughout aim however the Malaga defender, in attempting to clear off the road, ended up enjoying the ball onto the Granada ahead’s face, placing the hosts seemingly on the right track for victory.

Drama in stoppage time

However Malaga had one remaining twist in retailer. With the clock ticking deep into stoppage time, Nelson headed dwelling a dramatic equaliser within the 93rd minute from nook kick to carry the rating to 2-2.

However simply as Malaga followers celebrated a hard-fought draw, the match took one other dramatic flip. A penalty was awarded to Granada within the 97th minute after a foul by Nelson, who had simply scored the equaliser.

Granada’s Shon Weissman stepped as much as take the penalty, however Herrero got here to Malaga’s rescue, protruding a leg to make a vital save to disclaim the hosts a last-gasp victory.

“We by no means quit,” stated Malaga coach Sergio Pellicer after the match. “It’s in our DNA to battle till the final second, and at present we’ve proven that once more.”

The draw sees Malaga stay unbeaten for an additional week, and whereas the workforce will mirror on missed alternatives, Pellicer’s facet can take coronary heart from their potential to ship below strain as they proceed their marketing campaign.