Late penalty sting finally brings Malaga CF's dream run to an end

Malaga CF’s impressive unbeaten run under Juan Francisco Funes came to an abrupt end on Monday night as they were undone by a late, controversial penalty that sealed a 2-1 defeat to Segunda bottom club Mirandés at Anduva. The loss brought to an end a remarkable six-game win streak that had propelled the side into play-off spots.

In the freezing cold conditions, in front of 5,000 spectators around, the match began with the visitors asserting their dominance.

Funes, forced once more into changes by the suspensions of Diego Murillo and Carlos Dotor, opted for Ángel Recio in the heart of defence and Rafa in midfield and again used two forwards, with Chupete and Adrián Niño leading the line.

Malaga was dominant early and after Chupete’s initial shot had been blocked, he struck the post at a tight angle. This signalled an encouraging start.

However, that momentum was checked after ten minutes when goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero was forced into a superb save from Javi Hernández. After that, the game began to be more evenly matched, and the bottom side of the table started to gain a foothold in the contest.

In fact, their pressure paid off in the 22nd minute when Carlos Fernández, with all the time in the world, was able to control a cross from the left on the penalty spot and fire home from close range to put the hosts ahead.

Malaga responded by pushing higher up the pitch but found their rhythm disrupted by a Mirandés side keen to slow the game and protect their advantage.

Recio, Dani Lorenzo and others had chances to score but the visitors were still trailing at the half-time break despite persistent pressure.

Malaga increased the intensity in the second half. Aarón Ochoa replaced Rafa at the restart and the visitors pressed higher.

Their efforts were rewarded in the 59th minute when Ochoa headed in from close range after Carlos Puga’s hooked cross from the byline was sent looping into the air via a block on Niño’s strike, levelling the scores and gifting a deserved equaliser.

With Joaquín introduced soon after, the away side sensed an opportunity to go on and win the game. Instead, Mirandés gradually wrestled control again and forced Malaga back towards their own area.

The game opened with a tense exchange between the two teams, as the hosts enjoyed longer periods of possession while the visitors looked to counter.

In the 84th minute, Herrero kept his side alive with a vital save, pushing Javi Hernández’s freekick onto the crossbar and back out.

The decisive moment came from the resulting corner when referee Moreno Aragón awarded Mirandés a penalty for a barely noticeable tug by Puga. VAR did not intervene, despite the fact that there was contact.

Carlos Fernández converted superbly from the spot, placing his effort into the side netting, just beyond the keeper, to claim his second goal of the night.

Malaga refused surrendering and continued to press for an extended period of additional time. Into the seventh minute of additional time, Einar Galilea came closest with an improvised back-heel effort on Josué Dorrio’s cross that drifted narrowly wide of the far post.

Malaga remains just outside of the Segunda playoff places after the weekend. The loss marked the end of a remarkable run for Funes, and a drop in performance from recent matches.

Mirandés, meanwhile, earned a vital victory in their fight at the foot of the table.