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Malaga 1-1 Real Zaragoza: Honors Even Amid The Chaos
Both sides had a player sent off and play-acted throughout before sharing the spoils in an open encounter in La Rosaleda.
Nov 22, 2009 2:55:04 PM
Malaga and Real Zaragoza earn a point each after a game of red cards, dives, controversy and two goals entertained, but ultimately did little to help either team's respective push up the table.
On a bumpy and uneven pitch in Andalucia the two sides ensured that the encounter had a little of everything as the beleaguered referee had to cope with some real fouls and a lot of efforts to con him into awarding free-kicks.
Zaragoza set the tone by winning a penalty that came from an exaggerated fall while Javier Paredes was dismissed for the visitors before Weligton saw red for the hosts.
The opening 45 minutes gave little indication of what was to come after the break, but the early introduction of Ewerthon to replace Javier Arizmendi was to help spark matters.
Chances for both sides were unable to bring a breakthrough in the first half, but it took just four minutes after the restart for the opening to be made.
When it came though it enraged the home side and their supporters as Angel Lafita clearly dived over Gustavo Munua in the Malaga areas and won the visitors a penalty which Ewerthon tucked away.
The hosts were able to even things up on the gamesmanship stakse as Jesus Games went down very easily and the referee showed Paredes a red card just before the hour mark.
Moments later and frustrations boiled over as Weligton swung out at Goni and was also sent for an early bath, but despite numerical parity being restored Malaga found an equalizer in the 74th minute.
Ivan Gonzalez rose above Javier Lopez Vallejo to meet a corner and nod home at the far post and that set up a last quarter of an hour that saw the teams race from end-to-end in search of a winner.
Amid the chances though there was enough play-acting for an entire season, but the worst moment was not a dive or feigning a foul as Apono reacted badly to Andre's fall and appeared to spit in his face.
In the closing moments, things were summed up as forward Fernando Forestieri had the chance to win the game as he was one-on-one with the keeper only to clip the ball past Lopez Vallejo and fall in search of a penalty.
Correctly booked for his antics, the Argentinian rose to his feet looking sheepish as that was the best chance before Lafita hit the post in seven minutes of injury time.
Lucas Brown, Goal.com
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