defeat in stoppage time in Valladolid (3-2) 

C.D. Leganés failed to pick up any points in their away match against Real Valladolid (3-2). The Pepineros twice equalized the home side’s goals through Cissé and Duk, but a goal by Latasa in stoppage time secured the victory for the home team.

Igor Oca made four changes from the previous matchday, bringing in academy product Leiva, Melero, Óscar Plano, and Duk to the starting lineup in place of Figueredo, the suspended Diawara, Juan Cruz, and Naim for a Leganés side that traveled to Zorrilla with as many as seven players out due to injury or suspension.

Tenés put Valladolid ahead in the first half on a set-piece play

The first chance of the match came in the 4th minute, when Juan Soriano stopped a shot by Chuki for Valladolid. Leganés had its first chance in the 15th minute, with a header by Óscar Plano off a cross from Duk that resulted in a corner kick. In the 21st minute, on a set piece, Tenés put Valladolid ahead by heading in a corner kick past Juan Soriano to make it 1-0.

Leganés tried to respond by looking to combine through the middle and with Duk’s runs down the right flank, but they couldn’t create any real danger in Aceves’s area. In the 37th minute, it was Juan Soriano who once again intervened to block a shot by Tenés and prevent the home side from scoring a second goal. The score remained 1-0 in favor of Valladolid at halftime.

Cissé equalized, rewarding the team’s strong second half

The second half began with Igor Oca’s first substitution, bringing on Carlos Guirao in midfield to replace Melero, who had been booked in the first 45 minutes. The first chance after the restart fell to Leganés, with a corner headed by Diego that went just wide. In the 55th minute, the equalizer nearly came after a play by Guirao that failed to find a finisher in the six-yard box.

Lega had another good chance in the 61st minute following a run by Duk down the right flank that Dani Rodríguez and Ignasi Miquel nearly finished in Valladolid’s box. In the 65th minute, Leganés’ dominance in the second half was finally rewarded: Leiva made a run down the right flank, the academy product won the duel and delivered a killer pass, and after a rebound, Cissé cut inside past Aceves and, with all the composure in the world, scored the equalizer. It was the Guinean international’s second goal in this league.

Marcos André put the home side back in front, Duk equalized again, and Latasa sealed the win in stoppage time

Lega wasn’t content with the draw, sticking to their plan to go for a second goal. But in the 72nd minute, the home side took a 2-1 lead through Marcos André. Despite the blow, the Pepinera reaction came again in the 77th minute: Dani Rodríguez crossed to the far post, Duk controlled the ball and fired a right-footed shot past Aceves to tie the game at two, marking the Cape Verdean’s fourth goal of the season.

After the goal, Juan Cruz and Asue came on in a double substitution for Igor Oca, replacing Óscar Plano and Diego García. In the final stretch, Figueredo replaced Leiva in the Blue-and-Whites’ final substitution. The final minutes saw both teams pushing for the win, and in stoppage time, it was the home side who scored the winning goal through Latasa.

Leganés remains on 34 points in the standings, and their next match will be this coming Saturday (2:00 p.m.) against Ceuta at Ontime Butarque.