Malaga 2 - 1 Eibar: Malaga record first victory of the season

Posted Wednesday, September 21, 2016 by PA

Malaga secured their first win of the season as they came from a goal down to beat Eibar 2-1 at La Rosaleda.

Juande Ramos' men had two points from their opening four LaLiga games and when Nano put Eibar in front three minutes before half-time the writing was on the wall.

But a great turn and shot from Sandro Ramirez drew Malaga level before the break and 19-year-old Moroccan substitute Youssef En Nesyri curled in a spectacular second with just under 15 minutes left.

Eibar dominated first-half possession and territory despite making nine changes from the home draw against Sevilla, and the goal the Basque side arguably deserved arrived after 41 minutes.

Japanese midfielder Takashi Inui was given too much time and space to put in a cross from the left and Nano fired home a rebound after his initial weak header was palmed back to him by Malaga goalkeeper Carlos Kameni.

The hosts' response was an instant one, however. Sandro spun away from Mauro with a fabulous first touch before rifling a shot high past Asier Riesgo at his near post. They could even have gone in at half-time in front but Roberto Rosales' shot was deflected just wide with Riesgo beaten.

Malaga were on the front foot at the start of the second period and Riesgo had to get down smartly to keep out Sandro's low shot after he had muscled the ball off Dos Santos.

Adrian should have turned in a far-post cross at the other end from substitute Pedro Leon's cross in the 73rd minute, and it proved costly as a moment of magic put Malaga ahead with 14 minutes to go.

Juanpi's pass released En Nesyri down the right and with Sandro waiting in the middle for a cross, he instead curled a stunning left-foot shot beyond Riesgo.

Inui sliced a shot wide with seven minutes to go and Malaga defender Bakary Kone had to hack away a dangerous ball across the six-yard box from Pedro Leon as the hosts held on.