Villarreal draw against Deportivo despite taking the lead with a goal by Enes Ünal
Almost home and dry. Villarreal drew to RC Deportivo de la Coruña in a match the Yellows took the lead in through Enes Ünal in the first half. The Submarine could not sentence the match though and the side from Galicia managed to score a late equaliser in the form of a header by Florin Andone.
Villarreal CF’s new striker Roger Martínez, who was presented to fans from the VIP stand at the Estadio de la Cerámica, watched Calleja’s team get better and better as the game went on.
The Yellow Submarine deservedly took the lead after half an hour of play. Pablo Fornals got away from defenders with some tricky play and played a through ball to Carlos Bacca who then played a killer pass across the face of the goal to Enes Ünal, who ran onto the ball and sent it crashing into the back of the net (1-0, m. 29). It was the dream return to the Estadio de la Cerámica for the Turk, who played his first league game back after a short loan spell at Levante UD.
Deportivo did test Sergio Asenjo on several ocassions though. In the first half, he had to dive at the feet of Florin Andone to keep the visitors at bay and in the second half he was called on to make a fine save from a powerful strike by Adrián. The equaliser came in the 83rd minute. Sidnei strode forward with the ball from centre back and crossed from the left wing to Florin Andone, who nodded the ball home from close range for Deportivo.
Villarreal went all out for the equaliser in the final minutes and were on the verge of getting it as Pablo Fornals played another brilliant pass forward to Carlos Bacca, but the Colombian’s shot from the edge of the box went just wide of the post. Unlucky.
Villarreal’s next match will be this Wednesday against CD Leganés at the Estadio de la Cerámica (7:30pm CET). It is the second leg of the Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey (1-0 on aggregate).
Lineups:
Villarreal CF: Asenjo; Mario, Álvaro, Víctor Ruiz, Jaume Costa; Samu Castillejo (Cheryshev, m. 63), Rodrigo, Fornals, Raba (Chuca, m. 75); Enes Ünal and Bacca.
RC Deportivo de la Coruña: Rubén; Juanfran, Albentosa, Sidnei, Luisinho; Carles Gil (Çolak, m. 59), Mosquera (Borja Valle, m. 77), Celso Borges, Guilherme; Adrián (Bruno Gama, m. 84) and Florin Andone.
Goals: 1-0. Min. 29: Enes Ünal. 1-1. Min. 83: Florin Andone.
Referee: Medié Jiménez (Catalonia, Spain). Cautioned: Víctor Ruiz, Álvaro, Mario and Bacca for Villarreal; Guilherme, Luisinho and Sidnei for Deportivo.
Match Information: Match corresponding to Matchday 18 of the LaLiga Santander played at the Estadio de la Cerámica in front of 15,442 spectators.
