All square for Málaga CF against CD Tenerife, at La Rosaleda, on matchday 22 of LaLiga SmartBank. In the final stages of play Shashoua put the rival in front and Rubén Castro took the match level.
There was a great atmosphere in the stands for the first official match of 2023 and the second round of the competition. Before kick-off, a minute’s silence was held in memory ofPelé and Gianluca Vialli, who recently passed away. The Malaguista starting-11, with Nacho at the helm as Pepe Mel was suspended, was the same as the last league game, with the only change being Juande in place of suspended Esteban Burgos in defence.
In the first 15 minutes, two Malaguistas on a cycle of four yellow cards were shown a fifth, resulting in suspension, namely Genaro in 12’ and Escassi in 15’. Málaga got off to an intense start, generating good attacking opportunities against a Tenerife more focused on the defence.
As the first half progressed, Ramis' men began to dominate possession of the ball, but the Blue and Whites showed more bite. Rubén Castro, in 37’, had the clearest chance to get in front with a shot saved by a rival defender in goal. At half-time, the scoreboard remained 0-0.
In the second half, MCF made an attacking substitution, bringing on Álex Gallar in place of Genaro. Ten minutes in there was a good arrival from Tenerife with a cross shot by Iván Romero near the post. Around minute 65 of play, Julián Delmás made his Blue and White debut, coming on in place of Ramalho on the right. Two minutes later, Gallar tried his luck with an attempt from outside the area.
In 73', in an action initiated by a very rapid Delmás, Fran Villalba on the other side launched the ball close to former Malaguista Juan Soriano’s goal. Immediately afterwards, Tenerife took the lead with a goal from Shashoua (0-1, 75'). Fran Sol and Luis Muñoz, in place of Chavarría and Jozabed, joined play in 80'. Loren then came on for Febas in 85'.
With a great deal of suspense and a VAR review, Málaga CF equalised. A superb shot from Rubén Castro found the net(1-1, 87’). The fifth goal of the season for the Blue and White ‘pichichi’ and number 190 in his career in the silver division.
After eight minutes of stoppage time, the points were shared. MCF reach the 20-point mark in the standings, four points from safety.
