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Yangel Herrera scores late to give Espanyol win over Real Sociedad

Cornella de Llobregat, Spain, Nov 28 (EFE).- Venezuela’s Yangel Herrera secured an upset 1-0 win for Espanyol over Real Sociedad on Sunday at RDCE Stadium before 19,935 fans by finding the twine in the 77th minute.

Although Imanol Alguacil’s squad played better throughout the match, as luck would have it their best chances went by the wayside when one shot-on-goal hit the post and Isak got the ball into the net in the 65th minute only to have the tally annulled after VAR review.

During the first half, Real Sociedad set the rhythm, but Diego Lopez did a fine job in Espanyol’s net, defending against a shot by Le Normand, which hit the post, and then presiding while Imanol’s boys more or less lost their momentum.

Javi Puado had the best chances for Espanyol, surprising Remiro in the 32nd minute, although the attempt came to nought, and then knocking the ball into the post six minutes later. The locals showed, however, that they had enough going for them to keep the Basque team nervous, and perhaps throw them off their own game.

After the break, the two teams changed their tactics with Espanyol tossing out its conservative play-sheet and opening up bigger spaces on the pitch, while the visitors accepted the exchange of blows.

But the Basque squad was still dominant at this point and in the 63rd minute sent the ball into the post, while Isak a couple of minutes later beat Lopez only to have the VAR annul the goal after a lengthy deliberation because the ball was found to have touched the referee before going into the net.

Then, in the 77th minute, Herrera stepped up to fire one right into the net from in front, sealing the deal for the hosts.

The tally gave Espanyol a new burst of adrenaline, with Raul de Tomas unsuccessfully trying a shot-on-goal, and then Wu Lei firing one that also failed to connect, but nothing more was needed for the victory.

Lineups:

RCD Espanyol: Diego Lopez; Vidal (Miguelon, min.78), Sergi Gomez, Cabrera, Pedrosa; Yangel, Bare (Morlanes, min.58); Embarba (Melamed, min.58), Darder, Puado (Wu Lei, min.78) and Raul de Tomas (Loren, min.90).

Real Sociedad: Remiro; Gorosabel, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Diego Rico; Portu (Barrenetxea, min.60), Zubimendi, Guevara (Navarro, min.82), Januzaj; Sorloth (Isak, min.60) and Ozarzabal.

EFE dpb/ism/bp

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