We were unable to climb out of the bottom three as Óscar Rodriguez’s late equaliser cancelled out Salva Sevilla’s early free-kick in a 1-1 draw with CD Leganés at Visit Mallorca Estadi.
Vicente Moreno made three changes to the side which lost 1-0 to CF Villarreal on the road, introducing Salva Sevilla, Dani Rodríguez and Ante Budimir in place of Aleix Febas, Lago Junior and the suspended Antonio Raillo.
On the opposing bench, visiting head coach Javier Aguirre watched from the stands having received a red card the previous matchday. In his place, No.2 and former RCD Mallorca B assistant manager Toni Amor assumed responsibility.
Eliciting memories of last year’s play-off final free-kick in the ninth minute, Salva Sevilla gave us the lead from a dead ball situation when he cleverly rolled the ball under the CD Leganés wall and into the bottom corner.
Kenneth Omeruo came closest to levelling matters on behalf of the Madrid-based side in the first half, driving a deflected shot wide of Manolo Reina’s post before Guido Carrillo fired high and wide from inside the box.
Despite few opportunities for either side prior to the interval, an encouraging opening 45 minutes ended in a flurry of half-chances with Fran Gámez testing Iván Cuéllar from distance and Salva Sevilla volleying over the bar.
Switching to a back five following the introduction of Xisco Campos on the stroke of the hour mark, Moreno looked to limit the visiting side to shots from distance and spring quick counter attacks with Cucho Hernández and Take Kubo leading the charge.
Substitute Lago Junior added fresh legs on the break and a different dynamic cutting in from the left flank, and had not been for a matter of inches, the Ivorian would have doubled our lead when he curled a ball just past the far post.
As time ebbed away, Reina was called into action to make a crucial save with 15 minutes left on the clock to deny Guido Carrillo from point-blank range.
However, there was nothing he could do to stop Rodríguez’s piledriver free-kick with just moments remaining. The late blow leaves us two points from salvation with a trip to Real Madrid in five days’ time.
RCD Mallorca: Manolo Reina; Pozo, Sedlar, Valjent, Fran Gámez: Baba, Salva Sevilla (82’), Dani Rodríguez (52’), Kubo (82’); Cucho (68’), Budimir (68’)
Substitutes: Parera, Jesús, Sastre (82’), Xisco Campos (52’), Señé (82’), Lago Junior (68’), Salibur, Trajkovski, Chavarría, Febas, Luka, Abdón (68’)
CD Leganés: Cuéllar; Bustinza, Omeruo, Awaziem (81’), Kevin Rodrigues; Amadou (62’), Rubén Pérez (56’), Óscar Rodríguez, Aitor Ruibal (56’), Assalé (81’); Guido
Substitutes: M. Navarro, Silva, Roque Mesa (56’), Recio, Guerrero (62’), Tarín, Rosales (81’), Eraso, Bryan Gil (56’), Avilés (81’), Lombo
Goals: Salva Sevilla, 1-0 (9’), Óscar Rodríguez, 1-1 (86’)
