Fradi held by Espanyol in Europa League thriller

Dávid Sigér's low half-volley midway through the first half was cancelled out by Óscar Melendo's deflected shot just after the half-hour mark but Fradi were nearly always in the ascendancy, Isael missing one penalty before earning another in the last minute of normal time which substitute Michal Skvarka converted. Eldar Civic's added-time dismissal preceded a last-minute leveller from Sergi Darder though as the teams took a point each from an exciting encounter.

Rebrov made four changes from the goalless home draw against CSKA Moscow last time out, Ihnatenko, Oleksandr Zubkov, Endre Botka and Michal Skvarka making way for Abraham Frimpong, Sigér, Isael and Roland Varga, and it was Hungary's reigning champions which started the match on the front foot first, Roland Varga's inswinging left-wing cross finding Franck Boli at the far post but his bundled effort while under pressure from a defender was easily dealt with by visiting goalkeeper Diego López.

The visitors were next to threaten, A neat free-kick routine involving Óscar Melendo and captain Esteban Granero on the right wing ended with a cross in and a header over the crossbar from 14 metres by central midfielder Ander Iturraspe. Varga then stung the palms of a sprawling López to the goalkeeper's right after unleashing a shot from 25 metres in the sixth minute of a very open game thus far.

That openness continued when Isael drove in a vicious right-wing free-kick which flew through the mass of bodies in Espanyol's penalty area and cannoned off the far left post before rebounding to Sigér, his controlled half-volley finding its way inside the right post this time to hand Fradi a 23rd-minute lead.

Eight minutes later, the team from the city of Barcelona were level when tricky winger Pipa burrowed his way along the left byline and set up Melendo, whose ensuing right-footed shot was cruelly deflected off Frimpong and past wrong-footed Ferencváros goalkeeper Dénes Dibusz's outstretched right foot into the goal.

There were no more highlights before half-time but Ferencváros clearly made the better start to the second period, Sigér diverting Isael's right-wing corner centrimetres wide of the far left post in the 50th minute when unmarked just five metres from goal.

Fradi left-back Civic blazed a half-volley over in the 63rd minute and Isael thudded a similar but more impressive effort against the crossbar a minute later as Fradi sought but continually failed to make their undoubted second-half dominance count. Sigér's low, 20-metre drive should have demanded more of López in Espanyol's goal but his midfield foraging had been an essential part in the home team's encouraging performance all evening.

That's not to say the Spanish side were completely out of the match and they served the hosts a stern warning when a rare counter-attack saw Sébastian Corchia cross low for Victor Campuzano, the 22-year old drawing a tremendous reaction save from Dibusz with his first-time shot from close range.

Fradi were soon back on the attack though and the decisive moment seemed to have arrived when Didac Vila was adjudged to have fouled Boli when contesting a high ball in Espanyol's penalty area only for Isael, so effective throughout the match thus far, saw his spotkick saved well by López plunging to his left.

Miha Blazic flicked a left-wing corner wide with the inside of his left heel and Boli nearly surprised everyone with an acrobatic volley which was well gathered by López, but it appeared there'd be no way to find a winner until Isael made a last, late dash into the penalty area and was upended by Iturraspe as he was about to shoot, Skvarka sending López the wrong way and sliding the ball into the bottom-right corner of the goal.

There was still drama ahead though. Civic was dismissed for a second yellow card in the third minute of injury time and suddenly Fradi were under huge pressure. Substitute Sergi Darder crossed from the right but Vila somehow failed to beat Dibusz a few metres from goal. Last-ditch redemption was still within reach for his team though, Pipa beating Isael and crossing from the left wing for Darder to head the ball past Dibusz with just seconds remaining.

This result means Espanyol have qualified for the last 32 of the competition with one match still to play, while Ferencváros travel to Ludogorets next week knowing that whichever team wins will qualify in second place behind the Spanish club, but that a draw would see the Bulgarian club progress because they currently have seven points, one ahead of the Budapest club.

Europa League, Group H, 5th matchday:

Ferencváros 2-2 Espanyol (HT: 1-1)
Goalscorers: FTC: Sigér (23), Skvarka (90+1, pen); ESP Melendo (31), Darder (90+6)
Red card: Civic (94)
Ferencváros: Dibusz - Lovrencsics, Blazic, Frimpong, Civic - Sigér (Skvarka, 86.), Haratin - Isael, Nguen, Varga (Zubkov, 61.) - Boli (Sihnevich, 84.)
Espanyol: Diego López - Lluis Lopez, Calero, Didac Vila - Pipa, Lozano, Iturraspe, Granero (Ezzarfani, 69), Corchia - Melendo (Calleri, 81), Campuzano (Darder, 88)