Match Reports

Saturday 14 October 2006: 18:30h kick off and the sun has just set behind the new Tribuna stand giving some relief from the still hot 27C sun.
Malaga's opponents this week are Andalucian rivals Polideportivo Ejido from the Almeria province. The most interesting fact about this team is that they are managed by Antonio Tapia who was fired by Malaga last January after their poor first half of last season. Tapia was also previously manager of Malaga B before he took over the big team, so he knows the personnel at La Rosaleda inside out. His team this year however have had an indifferent start to the season, lying 15th out of 22 before the start of this game, with 3 wins, 1 draw and 3 defeats in their first seven games.
Malaga, after their poor showing against Cuidad de Murcia last week are lying 6th and the home fans were looking for a drastic improvement and a home win to keep them in touch with the leaders. Some factions have been calling for Alonso's head already as he doesn't seem able to motivate his team, nor know his best eleven from a 28 strong squad. The defence has been giving away goals and his defensive 4-2-3-1 line-ups has not led to Malaga dominating games in a division in which they should be just too strong for the opposition.
So we were delighted with the announcement of the team, which lined up in a more attacking 4-4-2 formation with Counago up front alongside Salva.
Malaga (4-4-2): Arnau; Jesus Gamez, Silva, Cesar Navas and Valcarce; Saul, Hidalgo, Romero and Calleja; Salva and Counago.
Poli Ejido: (4-2-3-1): Kike; Cristian, Tena, Robusta and Ramos; Sunny Sunday and Usero; Ortiz, Victor Sales and Vega; Toedtli.

Ejido kick off defending the Fondo end in their change strip of all fluorescent yellow, which reminded me of street cleaners. But it's all Malaga as they bear down on the Ejido goal from the outset. Hidalgo is having a good start to the game and is spraying passes all around the midfield. Indeed we only have to wait until the fourth minute for the first attempt at goal when Hidalgo finds 8'3" central defender Cesar in the opposition box and Kike has to make a save from the giant's header.
In 6' Calleja tries the audacious when he notices Kike at the edge of his 18 yard box. The winger fires a shot from half way but it's wide of the post.
In 13' Calleja crosses from the left to find Salva's head and Kike punches over as Malaga maintain the pressure. From the corner the ball comes out to Romero in midfield. The bandy legged Uruguayan defensive midfielder lets loose and his shot is blocked by an arm in the box. No penalty, says the ref.
Malaga have all the possession and Kike has to make another save this time from Coinage's header in 17'.
Then the first booking of the game in 18'. Calleja is booked for a stupid tackle from behind.
The following minute Saul's cross from the right produces a strong header from Salva which Kike can only scramble away. The ball lands at Saul's feet whose shot is beaten down off an arm in the box. Again penalty appeals come to nothing.
In 21' Ejido's combatitive midfielder Sunday is booked for persistent fouling.
In 31' Saul tries a Pele; you know, where he hits a ball right and tries to run left around the keeper and then back for the ball, but Kike just manages to get his fingertips to the ball to avert the danger.
In 32' it's Ejido's first foray into the Malaga half and it's former Malaga B captain, Usero, who finds himself one on one with Arnau. The Malaga keeper hesitates (as per usual) but Usero's shot hits the side net.
The next minute we're back in the Ejido goalmouth and Saul's shot is scrambled away by Kike, who is having a busy time and yet managing to keep his goal intact, one way or another.
In 41' Kike produces yet another fine save after some good short passing play between Counago and Calleja which allows Salva to fire in a shot at the near post. The big keeper gets down well.
In 43' Romero becomes the second Malaga booking of the game for not retreating quickly enough at a free kick. Then Ortiz is booked for a foul on Calleja.
Half time 0-0
Straight after the kick-off and Cesar becomes Malaga's third man in the book after going through from the back in a tackle on Toedtli.
In 53' Usero is booked for a foul on Counago.
In 55' Alonso makes a double substitution, bringing off Counago and Saul for Ernesto and Jonaton. Extremely left footed Ernesto goes wide right and Jonaton Valle finds a spot just off Salva up front.
In 56' Malaga have their best opportunity when Romero heads towards an open goal with Kike grounded after a powerful drive from Ernesto. Somehow a defender appears from the ether to head the ball off the line.
In 63' Salva is booked for the fifth time this season, this time for diving. It's Malaga's fourth of the game.
In 64' Ejido match Malaga on the bookings front when Toedtli is booked for dissent.
In 65' Malaga maintain their search for goal having had more than 90% of the play in Ejido's half. Jonaton, however, skies his effort when a shot on target would have been a certain goal.
Then disaster for Malaga in 69'. In Ejido's second attack of the match, the ball is adjudged by the referee to come off Silva's arm in the box. Penalty! Both Valcarce and Jonaton are booked for protesting. (Six bookings so far).
Against a cacophony of shrill whistles and jeers around the ground, TOEDTLI makes no mistake from the spot.
Malaga 0 Ejido 1
In 72' Valcarce is substituted for Sandro who slots into midfield. Calleja moves to left back, Ernesto moves across to left wing and Jonaton goes wide right in a number of tactical changes.
In 74' Sandro is booked for dissent. (Booking 7)
In 78' Tena is booked for a foul on Salva.
Malaga continue to attack, but the tempo has increased threefold.
In 79' Calleja takes a free kick on the right 30 yards out. He finds CESAR in the box and this time his header finds the back of the net.
Malaga 1 Ejido 1.
It's exciting stuff as Malaga pile on the pressure in the closing ten minutes, but Kike and his defence hold out for Malaga to drop another two points at home.
Final score: Malaga 1 Ejido1

Next week Malaga are away to Xerez, another Andalucian rival from Jerez. On this occasion Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be making the 3 hour journey to have a long weekend in the city renowned for it's sherry and brandy bodegas. The game is live on TV with a 12:00 noon Sunday kick-off scheduled. Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there.