Malaga 2 : 2 Getafe - Late fightback saves Malaga

Posted Sunday, February 13, 2011 by PA

Two goals in the last 10 minutes saw Malaga fight back from 2-0 down to secure a hard-earned point at home to Getafe in the Primera Division.

Goals from Miku and Adrian Colunga had seen Getafe race into the lead after just 23 minutes, and although Julio Baptista's penalty 10 minutes from the end gave Malaga hope of a revival, it looked as if the visitors would hold on until Jose Salomon Rondon's dramatic leveller deep into added time.

Malaga came into this game having picked up just a point from their last four fixtures and needed a victory to move off the bottom of the table.

But Manuel Pellegrini's men will have been happy with a point in the circumstances.

Those saw the Andalusians make the worst possible start with goalkeeper Francesc Arnau - in for the injured Sergio Asenjo - gifting an opening goal to Miku after just eight minutes.

The former Barcelona keeper badly misjudged Adrian Colunga's deflected effort and palmed the ball straight to Miku, who was on hand to slot home from close range.

Things soon got worse for Malaga as Colunga ran on to a deep pass to beat Arnau - who this time was slow off his line - with a neat lob.

Baptista almost hit back immediately, but saw his angled shot drift just wide.

The Brazil forward also forced Oscar Ustari into a good save later in the half and missed another promising opportunity midway through the second period.

And it looked as if Getafe would hold on for an impressive away victory, even when Ivan Marcano handled in the area and Baptista reduced the deficit from the spot.

But Malaga kept fighting and after Arnau had gone forward in the desperate search for an equaliser, it was Rondon who scrambled home from close range four minutes into injury time to secure a valuable point for the Andalusians.