Awaziem Error Costs Omeruo’s Leganes Dearly In Relegation Battle

Goals from Real Valladolid’s Enes Unal and Rubén Alcaraz condemned the home side to a crushing 2-1 defeat despite Javier Aguirre handling the Nigerian pair of Chidozie Awaziem and Kenneth Omeruo a rare start at the heart of Leganes defence.

The Super Eagles duo played their part this term in helping Leganes concede fewer goals than the likes of Real Betis, Levante, and Eibar above them and the same number as European ticket-chasing Valencia. 

Still, it took only two minutes for Valladolid to get the breakthrough at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque on Saturday evening in their first game back from the coronavirus-induced break. 

A frantic start saw Awaziem send a header off target before a defensive blunder from the Super Eagle allowed Ünal go up the other end to hand the visitors the lead with the two sides yet to fully settle into the game after more than three months out.

With that goal out of the way, the two teams could not fashion out any other clear-cut chances for the rest of the half, with a Guido Carrillo miss from an Omeruo headed pass the closest both sides came to registering another strike.

But despite seeing less of the ball and playing on the back foot for the most part, Valladolid doubled their lead when Rubén Alcaraz’s left-footed shot found the top left corner ten minutes into the second half.

Leganes’ Oscar Rodriguez pulled one back for Aguirre’s men from the penalty spot late in the match, but it was to be nothing more than a consolation for the homers. 

It’s a vital away win for the White-and-Violets with the three points shooting the Ronaldo da Lima-owned side up to 14th on the league table, seven solid points above the drop zone.

The loss, Leganes’ 15th in 28 La Liga games, leaves the Cucumber Growers deep in relegation waters with only Espanyol below them in the standings on goal difference.