Raul Tamudo and Toni Velamazán grabbed the goals as Espanyol edged out Premier League Fulham 2-1 in glorious sunshine in Le Touquet this afternoon.
The stunning seaside town in northern France was a luxurious location for Edwin van der Sar’s first appearance in a Fulham shirt since the Dutch international’s stunning switch from Juventus was confirmed on Wednesday. The former Ajax goalkeeper was left to pick the ball out of the net twice inside the opening half an hour minutes as one of La Liga’s most potent attacks prised open Jean Tigana’s new-look defence all too easily.
Firstly, Mexican striker Francisco Palencia exploited oceans of space beyond Rufus Brevett to pick out Tamudo and the Spanish striker slotted a finish past the stranded van der Sar with the minimum of fuss from ten yards. That goal prompted a patient spell of Fulham passing but Tigana’s team failed to create a clear-cut chance and were punished down their left flank once more when full back Fran got the better of Brevett and crossed for the ex-Exremadura man to nip between Alain Goma and Andy Mevlille to head in a second.
Tigana opted against changes at half time and his side almost found a way back into the contest shortly after the restart. Melville nodded wide from Steed Malbranque’s free-kick before the mercurial midfielder swapped passes with John Collins allow Brevett to bring a brilliant save out of Espanyol goalkeeper Alfredo Argenso. But the goalkeeper couldn’t prevent Barry Hayles from reducing the deficit to one with a powerful finish after the burly forward had been released by a raking pass from Melville.
Suddenly, it seemed a different came to the one that the Spaniards had been dominating in the first half. A succession of Malbranque set-plays brought the home side a succession of near misses but Hayles flicked a header wide and Louis Saha lashed just over the bar on the volley as the Whites failed to complete a stirring second half fightback.
R. C. D. ESPANYOL (4-4-2): Argenso; Fran, Rotchen, Lopo, Soldevilla; Oscar Garcia, Velamazán, Munteanu, Sousa; Tamudo, Palencia.
GOALS: Tamudo (12), Velamazán (29).
FULHAM (4-4-2): van der Sar, Finnan, Brevett, Goma, Melville (Symons 80); Davis (Ouaddou 56), Clark, Malbranque, J. Collins (Boa Morte 56); Hayles, Saha. Subs (not used): Taylor, Knight, Trollope, Goldbaek, Stolcers.
GOAL: Hayles (52).
