Match Reports

It's quite clear what is required to avoid relegation going into the penultimate match of the season and Malaga's last home game. Look at the bottom of the table and the relegation contenders:

Málaga 51
Las Palmas 51
Alaves 49

Real Madrid Castilla 45

It is clear that there are six points between RMC in the last relegation spot (the three below are already relegated) and Malaga with two games and six points at stake. All Malaga needs is one point to climb out of reach and into safety, or for RMC to drop points either at today's match (at home to Almería) or in the final game next week.

Malaga have problems of their own in their team selection, with both regular strikers out (Counago suspended and Ivan Rosado injured) so it means a rare start for 8'6" giant Uruguayan striker Chengue Morales and a call up for teenage striker, Plata, from the youth team as cover on the bench. Long serving former Uruguayan international defensive midfielder, "Gato" Romero has announced his retirement from the game through not being able to get through injuries and has been promised some emotional last minutes on the field, match conditions allowing. Muniz keeps the unlikely defensive pairing of 36 year old Argentinean Schurrer and teenager Kiko, another prospect from the successful youth team. With regular Jesus Gamez missing through suspension after his sending off last week, Molinero gets a start at right back and Edgar retains his place on the right wing.

Málaga (4-1-4-1): Goitia; Molinero, Kiko, Schurrer and Valcarce; Gascón; Edgar, Sandro Hidalgo and Calleja; 'Chengue' Morales.

Cádiz (4-4-2): Limia; Velázquez, César, De Quintana and Lucas; Enrique, Bezares, Abel and Jonathan; Pavoni and Acuña.

It's a 18:00h kick off in bright sunshine with temperatures in the mid-30's, with Malaga choosing to defend the Fondo end in the first half. 14,854 spectators have turned up in the sunshine and create a noisy carnival atmosphere with drums beating, flares creating smoke clouds and banners flying in the light breeze. But it's Cadiz who start the game with more pace and urgency. In the first minute, Schurrer concedes a free kick in a dangerous position and when the ball is whipped into the penalty area, Valcarce is there first to head clear. It's a torrid start for Schurrer as Acuna dummies him twice before passing him down the left channel. The veteran centre back trips him for another free kick near the goal line. Goitia gathers the free kick and lanches the ball Route One for Chengue Morales to chase. Visiting keeper Limia has to rush off his line to jump and punch clear. In 5' Schurrer again concedes a free kick just outside the penalty area. Again Valcarce is first to the ball and clears down the left touchline. In Malaga's first real attacking move in 7' Edgar delivers a cross into the box where Chengue is just beaten to the ball by Cesar. Malaga go closer in 8' when Calleja takes a cheeky chipped free kick aiming for Chengue's head. The giant heads on target but Limia manages to push the ball around the post for a corner. Calleja's kick is cleared by the Cadiz defence. It's a pulsating game with plenty of action at both ends, but Cadiz do seem to be on top at this point. In 9' Schurrer is forced to concede another free kick which Goitia catches confidently. In 10' Malaga mount a sweeping attack through the middle with Sandro and Calleja passing beautifully. Calleja's cross finds Chengue, but he's offside. In 11' Edgar is clear down the right wing, but the former paceman is too slow and the danger is easily cleared by Lucas, running back. In 12' Cadiz keep up the pressure and win another free kick just outside the box. Goitia again takes control. In 13' Malaga's best effort so far. Chengue cuts back to Hidalgo, standing 25 yards out. He releases an absolute screamer and it's heading straight for the top corner. Somehow Limia manages to fly across his goal and make a great save, pushing the ball over. Calleja's corner is too long but finds Edgar who manages to turn and send in a powerful drive across the goal looking for a touch. It's touched by a Cadiz player and Malaga win another corner. This time Calleja takes it short and the chance is lost. In 15' Edgar and Calleja swap wings. In 20' they swap back again. The giant scoreboard gives us information we didn't want to see: RMC go one up against Almeria! In 21' Valcarce concedes a corner after giving the ball away with a slack pass. The corner kick dips just under the bar and Goitia has to look lively to stop the ball going in. However, Cadiz striker Acuna goes one better seconds later when he recieves the ball in the area and has time to turn and blast the ball past Goitia. But he's offside: WHEW It's a fright for Malaga though. The giant scoreboard doesn't help matters when it tells us that RMC have gone two up! But Cadiz have looked quicker on the ball, full of ideas and quick to close down Malaga in the midfield. Their central midfielders Bezares and Abel are controlling the middle of the field, where Sandro in particular has been posted missing. The little playmaker makes his first incisive pass in 38' when he slots through for Chengue to run onto on the half way line, but incredibly the big striker is given offside. Then a big let off for Malaga in 41' when Enrique finds himself completely unmarked at the far post. His header goes wide but he should have finished. In 40' Chengue, ploughing a lone furrow up front tries a swerver from 25 yards. It looks goalbound but Limia again dives full length to make an excellent save. In 43' Calleja crosses from the left into the box. Chengue jumps for it with a defender and lands in a heap. Penalty? No, Chengue booked for diving and misses the last game next week through suspension. This means that this game is probably his last for Malaga. In 44' Enrique is booked for bring down Edgar. On half time Valcarce finds Hidalgo whose shot is turned round the post by Limia. Calleja's corner finds Chengue but he heads over.

Half time: Malaga 0 Cadiz 0

We have discussed Malaga's tea lady here before and the issue is a constant worry. Malaga have lost so many games by falling asleep and losing concentration just after the restart. There have been many calls for her to be sacked and maybe she has because Malaga start firing on all cylinders.
Chengue has the easiest opportunity in his life to score in 46' when Kiko spots the Route One open for business and puts the giant striker through one on one. Limia keeps his head and somehow easily collects the ball from Chengue's big feet. In 48' another great chance for Malaga. Chengue charges into the box. Edgar is there in support but when he receives the ball, he seems unsure what to do with it. We are screaming "ShoooooT" but the Angolan does a three point turn instead and sends a cross along the six yard line to Mr Nobody. In 52' the hard working Chengue is again fighting to get to a cross from Calleja but
despite being half his height, defender De Quintana heads clear. Then in 53' Goitia has to dive full stretch to save from left winger Jonathon's drive from the wing. The scoreboard now tells us that RMC have gone into a 3-0 lead against Almeria and that Alaves have also gone 1-0 up. Malaga's plight is clear. Their rivals for the fourth relegation spot are getting the results they need but Malaga are safe as long as they hang onto the draw. Malaga keep battering the Cadiz defence and Chengue does well in 59' to hold up the ball whilst waiting for support. It's Edgar again but when he shoots this time he puts the ball well over. In 61' Acuna goes close for Cadiz with another free header at the left post. His effort hits the side netting. It's the Acuna show as the striker is booked for a foul on Edgar. In 65' Acuna strikes again. It's an innoccuous throw in from the left, but Malaga's defence stand and watch as Acuna collects the ball and fires it past the static Goitia. What a disaster!! With their relegation rivals winning and Malaga losing, our favourites look favourites for the drop.

Malaga 0 Cadiz 1

Malaga continue to pressure the Cadiz goal, now looking for an equaliser as yet again they chase a game at home. This time the equaliser means salvation from the dreaded drop! In 67' Edgar creates space down the right wing for a cross which finds full back Valcarce at the far post, but this header hits the side netting. In 68' Valcarce is taken off and Jonaton Valle comes on. Malaga go to the now recognisable panic-stricken set-up of 3-4-3 in all out attacking mode. In 70' Hidalgo goes close after a slick one-two with Valle, but the referee whistles for offside. Chico comes on for Abel for Cadiz. In 71' Molinero, who is now playing on the right wing as Edgar has become a striker, crosses for Valle whose header is deflected for a corner. Calleja finds Chengue's head with the kick and the big man heads downs strongly, but straight at Limia. In 72' Edgar is replaced by Perico. Malaga have thrown caution to the wind and have all 10 players in the Cadiz half, with only Goitia staying back. It's a dangerous ploy as Cadiz try to catch Malaga on the counter and in 75' Goitia has to make an excellent stop to deny the visitors an increase to their lead. In 77' Acuna, who has been a thorn in Malaga's defence, is taken off for De Paula. In 78' Molinero gets to the by-line and crosses for Chengue to head over. In 80' the pressure is starting to tell as Malaga have three players in the box passing to each other rather than take the responsibility of shooting. Sandro, Chengue and Perico are the culprits. In 82' Molinero tries something different and shoots well over from 30 yards. In 84' Malaga continue to press and Hidalgo is fouled on the 18 yard line. Calleja's free kick comes off the wall. In 85' Perico finds himself clean through. Just SHOOT. No, he passes to Mr Nobody instead. In 86' Valle finds Chengue in the box with a slick through ball. The big fella turns and passes square to HIDALGO who runs in and makes no mistake from 6 yards. GGOOOOAAALLLLLL!!!!!!!! We are in tears as we check that the ref has given it. Is it a goal? YES!!!! Malaga have drawn level. We have won the World Cup, Scottish League and FA Cup all on one day! Let's blow for full-time now. GOOOAAALLLL!!!!!!

Malaga 1 Cadiz 1

Three minutes to go. But the game is all over and Romero is allowed to make his farewells with a substitution in 89' for lacklustre and totally ineffective Sandro.

Full time Malaga 1 Cadiz 1

Typical Malaga - leave it late and stretch the nerves, but the draw means that it doesn't matter what the other scores are. Malaga are mathematically safe. Hooray!

Well, what a season. Malaga started off as the biggest favourites for promotion, went into voluntary administration in December and have fought bravely against the spectre of relegation for too many months.

Next week sees the last game of the season, a nothing at stake match away to Castellon, a seaside resort on the Valencian coastline. But for Malaga, the rebuilding starts now and they have already made enquiries about players to reinforce their team for next season, including Saizar, a striker who currently plays for Cuidad de Murcia.

Season 2007-08 starts on 26 August 2007, with Malaga probably playing away as it too hot to play in Malaga in August. It will be another season in La Segunda, but with the year just past behind them, the supporters will be expecting Malaga to come out of the stocks with all guns blazing, some new exciting players on the books and a real challenge for promotion.

Never fear, Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there. Enjoy your summer!