Deportivo dented by late winner

Castro opener
The Uruguayan striker, who scored 32 league goals in two successful spells at the Riazor, pounced with just a minute to go as the ten-man visitors' resistance was finally ended at the Olímpico de Montjuïc stadium. The goal completed a sterling second-half comeback by the home team, whose rock-bottom confidence going into the game was hardly helped when Rubén Castro broke the deadlock from the penalty spot after just five minutes.

Coloccini dismissal
Having conceded five against Getafe CF and then four more at Real Madrid CF in the past three weeks, Espanyol could have capitulated but instead they dug in. They wrought their reward ten minutes after the interval when Luis García equalised with another spot-kick, and the home crowd's tentative celebrations became a roar when Deportivo had Argentinian centre-back Fabricio Coloccini sent off for minutes later.

Spectacular finale
Now it was Deportivo's turn to dig in, and they held out until the 89th minute when Pandiani struck the winner. That means Espanyol will travel to La Coruna for the second leg with a precarious 2-1 lead as they bid for a place in the final, most likely against Real Zaragoza, who routed Madrid 6-1 last night.