Spain 2-1 Albania: David Raya debuts well as suis Enrique’s side snatch a late winner Dani Olmo
Spain 2-1 Albania: David Raya makes an impressive debut as Luis Enrique’s side snatch a dramatic late winner through Dani Olmo after Myrto Uzuni’s equaliser with five minutes left in their international friendly
- Spain snatched a late 2-1 win against Albania in their friendly on Saturday night
- Ferran Torres gave the hosts the lead with 15 minutes left at Espanyol’s stadium
- Myrto Uzuni equalised late on but Dani Olmo stole the win in the 90th minute
Brentford goalkeeper David Raya conceded a freak goal on his Spain debut but ended up on the winning side in a 2-1 victory over Albania.
Raya was picked to start the friendly and looked on his way to a clean sheet in a 1-0 win after Ferran Torres put the home side ahead on 75 minutes.
But with six minutes left, defender Pau Torres’ header cannoned off of Myrto Uzuni and past Raya who had come a long way off his line.
Dani Olmo (right) scored a late winner as Spain snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory against Albania
Debutant David Raya of Brentford looked like he would keep a clean sheet until a late freak goal
Barcelona forward Ferran Torres (centre) scored the opener after 75 minutes in Barcelona
Raya, Spain’s 26-year-old keeper who had been the surprise selection in the Spain squad, was starting the game having only played 15 top flight games for Brentford, and none in his home country.
His last club in Spain was lower league side Unió Esportiva Cornella, a long goal kick from Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium where this game was taking place.
The man called up to replace David de Gea, dropped for the first time in eight years, had an impressive enough debut until the lapse on the 86th minute.
It was more a Torres error than Raya mistake but it would have been headline in Sunday’s papers in Spain.
Winger Myrto Uzuni (right) equalised with five minutes left for the world’s 65th-ranked side
But Olmo netted in the 90th minute as Luis Enrique’s side grabbed the win right at the death
Dani Olmo rewrote those headlines and saved Spain’s blushes, climbing off the bench to curl in the winner in injury time.
‘They were lucky with their goal,’ said Olmo. ‘We stayed true to ourselves and in the end the goal came.’
Spain now play Iceland on Tuesday with coach Luis Enrique still reluctant to renew his contract beyond this year’s World Cup.
He told Spain reporters in the build-up to this game: ‘I’m not renewing for you lot. Then if the World Cup goes badly you wont have to ask them to sack me.’
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