Colunga at the double

Adrian Colunga's second-half double inspired Getafe to a shock 2-0 win at Espanyol.

Adrian Colunga's second-half double inspired Getafe to a shock 2-0 win at Espanyol. The hosts were looking to bounce back from their first defeat of the Primera Division season at Villarreal in midweek, but were undone by Colunga's brace. The 28-year-old fired home in the 73rd minute and again in stoppage time, with both goals coming after excellent work from substitute Pablo Sarabia. Colunga should have opened the scoring in the opening minutes after going clean through on goal, rounding Francisco Casilla only to slot the ball across goal. That came seconds after the Espanyol goalkeeper had made a good save from Diego Colotto's header as Getafe made a promising start. Espanyol grew stronger as the half wore on, with Christian Stuani heading wide from Simao's right-wing free-kick, while Victor Sanchez fired over from a decent position. The sides went in goalless at the break although Getafe started the second half in a similarly positive manner to the opening 45 minutes. It was Colunga who once again came to the fore and although his effort from inside the area was on target, it was parried away by Casilla. At the other end, Colotto and Hector Moreno fired over the bar. Getafe goalkeeper Miguel Moya made a fantastic save from Joan Capdevila's stunning 20-yard volley to keep the scores level and it proved a crucial moment in the game as the visitors took the lead shortly afterwards. Sarabia, who had been introduced from the bench five minutes earlier, expertly slid in Colunga, who took a touch into the box before finishing with aplomb. Stung into action, the hosts set about levelling and Colotto's goalbound header from Luis Pizzi's free-kick on the right wing was cleared off the line by Lopez Rafa. Joan Capdevila then glanced his header at the near post from another set-piece across goal and narrowly wide. Getafe seemed to be living on the edge as Stuani twice missed the target from close range, but they weathered the storm and then sealed victory on the counter in the second minute of injury time. The influential Sarabia dribbled to the right by-line and cut back to Colunga, who composed himself before drilling into the net at the back post.