Racing de Santander 0 : 1 Espanyol - Espanyol claim hard-fought win

Posted Saturday, October 22, 2011 by PA

Espanyol secured their second consecutive 1-0 win on the road thanks to Sergio Garcia's second-half winner against rock bottom Racing Santander at El Sardinero.

After a turgid first period during which neither side looked like scoring the match came alive in the second-half.

The hosts' best effort came when Pape Diop's free-kick rattled off the bar 10 minutes after the break but only moments later they were behind, Joan Verdu's beautiful floated pass over the defence handing Garcia the simple task of placing his volley beyond the onrushing Tono Ramirez.

Racing were full of endeavour and tried to take the game to Espanyol thereafter but lacked any real quality in the final third and the visitors had the best chance to extend their lead but Verdu's effort was well held by Tono.

Racing came into this game one of only two sides in the Primera Division still without a victory and it was easy to see where their problems lay in an uneventful first-half during which Espanyol controlled possession but without stretching the home defence.

Diop, who was again Racing's standout performer, came closest to breaking the deadlock two minutes before the break but his shot from distance was turned away by Cristian Alvarez.

The Senegalese midfielder came agonisingly close again after 55 minutes when his 25-yard free-kick had Alvarez beaten but the Argentine keeper gratefully saw the ball rebound off his crossbar and away to safety.

Five minutes later Espanyol's possession football did bear fruit as Verdu's delightful chipped pass put Garcia in behind the Racing defence and he calmly slotted past Tono from six-yards.

Hector Cuper introduced Ariel Nahuelpan and Mamadou Kone from the bench and their combination of speed and power did create extra problems for Espanyol in the final quarter but all too often the finish was poor from Racing.

Verdu nearly doubled the advantage on the counter-attack as a lofted cross from the right found the playmaker unmarked on the edge of the area but his side-footed volley was well handled by Tono.

Kone fired over and Nahuelpan shot straight at Alvarez in the dying minutes as Espanyol comfortably held on.

The defeat sends Racing to the bottom of the table following Sporting's win over Granada, whilst Mauricio Pochettino's side move up to eighth.