Each victory is a prize of incalculable value in this Second Division, where the top nine are stacked up with just four points of difference. Adding three makes a huge difference and can mean being the leader of the category. That was what Espanyol was after in Alcorcón. But once again away from home, Ramis' team was shipwrecked in its mission to find victory. Braithwaite did his job, as almost always, and scored his 18th goal. But a defensive sloppiness led to new disappointment in the final stretch.
Without being excessively brilliant in their game, Espanyol was able to carry the weight of the match and reach the Alcorcón goal with some continuity. The Madrid team collaborated with an advanced defense that allowed many spaces behind them for the unchecking of Braithwaite and Keita Baldé, one of Ramis's great novelties in the match. The forward has not managed to reach the level expected of him, but against Alcorcón he had great chances. In the clearest, before the half hour mark, he headed wide a great cross from the right by Keidi Bare.
Two points from the safety spots, Alcorcón made a virtue of necessity to stand up to one of the roosters in the category. It was Javi Lara, who at 38 years old continues to exude talent in the Second Division, who had the clearest chance: a powerful shot that the blue and white goalkeeper resolutely rejected. Later it was Chiki who had the goal on a counterattack after a turnover by Keidi Bare.
At half-time Espanyol arrived more convinced of the victory, having dominated in the final stretch of the first half. Flattering news for a team that with Ramis has only won one game away from home. Espanyol came more and better, but they did not resolve forcefully. During the restart the parakeet team continued to push, and in one of those multiple arrivals it was Braithwaite who found the goal again, and they are 18 this season. The Dane headed a cross from El Hilali inside the area. The striker's production continues to be the main reason that allows the fans to believe that promotion is possible.
The goal in favor felt very bad for Espanyol, who could not suppress the temptation to protect the result. It took ten minutes for Chema to take advantage of a loose ball on the front line to beat Joan García with an extraordinary hit. Ramis' team let a succulent victory slip away. After so much rowing, he left two points in a very innocent way when he had everything in his favor. Those from Ramis tried until the end without very clear ideas. The point is again insufficient. Espanyol wanted to sleep as the leader, but they couldn't even fall asleep.
1 - Alcorcon: Anacker; Castro (Obieta, m.71), Rivas, Chema Rodriguez, Grills; Victor Garcia, Javi Perez, Yan Eteki (Iker Bilbao, m.84), James (Juanma Bravo, m.90 1); Chiki (Fede Vico, m.85) and Javi Lara (Addai, m.71).
1 - Espanyol: Joan García; Sergi Gómez, Víctor Ruiz, Cabrera; El Hilali, Keidi Bare (Pol Lozano, m.85), Gragera (Gastón, m.90), Salvi (Jofre, m.63); Puado (Lazo, m.85), Keita (Pere Milla, m.63) and Braithwaite.
Quaffles: 0-1: M.64 Braithwaite; 1-1: M.75 Chema Rodríguez.
Referee: Jon Ander González Esteban (Basque Committee). He admonished Rivas (m.45), Castro (66), from Alcorcón; and Cabrera (m.6), Keita Balde (34), Víctor Ruiz (74) and Lazo (90 8), from Espanyol. He expelled Callís, from Alcorcón, and Salvi (77), from Espanyol, when they were on the bench.
Incidents: match corresponding to matchday 30 of the Hypermotion League, played at the Santo Domingo stadium in Alcorcón (Madrid), in front of 2,521 spectators. On the occasion of International Women's Day on March 8, the employees of the pottery club posed in the official photo of the pottery team before the opening whistle.
