Chidozie Awaziem’s Error Pushes Leganes To The Brink

A dreadful mix up between Chidozie Awaziem and goalkeeper Ivan Cuellar saw another nail added in 19th-placed Leganes’ coffin as they lost 2-1 to visiting Real Valladolid in an empty Estadio Municipal de Butarque on Saturday.

Just two minutes had passed when a miscommunication between Awaziem and Cuellar allowed Enes Unal put the visitors in the lead.

Awaziem under pressure from Unal, thought to head a high ball to Cuellar, but unknown to the Super Eagles defender, Cuellar had already raced out of his goal to deal with the ball leaving the goal gaping.

A three-man race then ensued with Unal winning to tap into the gaping goal.

The error came just a minute after Awaziem had a shot for a penalty turned down at the other end after his header from a corner appeared to hit the arm of Valladolid defender Mohammed Salisu.

Leganes who also had Super Eagles player Kenneth Omeruo in defence have been dreadful at the back all season and more lax defending allowed Ruben Alcaraz double the visitor’s lead after 54 minutes.

Salisu, jittery at the back through out offered Leganes a way back in when he hacked down a player in the box with Oscar Rodriguez dispatching the resultant penalty.

But it proved to be only a consolatory effort as Valladolid held on to the win.

The defeat leaves Leganes with 23 points in 19th place three points off safety with 10 games left to play. Valladolid move up to 14th-place with 32 points.