BARCELONA, Spain — Espanyol midfielder Abraham Gonzalez scored shortly before halftime to earn his side a 1-0 home win over bottom-placed Cordoba in the Spanish league on Friday.
Gonzalez drove in a strike from the edge of the area after striker Felipe Caicedo had headed the ball back to him two minutes before the interval.
Cordoba improved after forward Bebe was introduced at the start of the second, but Espanyol goalkeeper Kiko Casilla saved Federico Cartabia’s header with five minutes remaining.
Espanyol provisionally moved into eighth place, while Cordoba was left five points from safety.
Espanyol hosts Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal. Espanyol drew 1-1 at Bilbao in the first leg.
