If Sosa Espinel’s dug out had been a boxer it would have begged the ref for protection. The CD Marino coach vented his frustration after an evening watching his team spurn chance after chance to draw 1-1 at home to CD Laguna. It should have been a comfortable victory margin but they had to withstand a late rally against their ten men.

With the top spot to hold on to Marino came out fired up, Murci and Balduino both looked sharp, Murci nearly turned the keeper for an early chance and then had a close shot blocked by Dani between the sticks. The build up play from midfield was impressive with Lamine and Airam pushing up to support the attack and Yosimar laid on some good service from the left flank. It took 23 minutes for the breakthrough, another good raid ended with skipper Airam making a strong run to head a Marino lead.

That should have heralded a bucket full but Marino couldn’t convert their dominance into goals, Balduino wrapped himself around a metal support after sliding in from a tight angle only to see his shot hit the post. Kirian brought Balduino crashing down in the penalty area just prior to the break but the ref wouldn’t point to the spot. The chances were still coming in the second half, Lamine rose for a powerful header but it lacked accuracy and Yosimar curled a shot just past the post.

Laguna had hardly troubled Alberto but when Richard dwelt too long on the ball near the corner Gaizka dug it out and crossed for Cristian to get a surprise equalizer after 54 minutes. It woke up Marino and they surged forward again, Murci did well to put the ball across the visitors goal after a corner but there wasn’t any blue shirts on hand to finish the move. Sub Juanmi forced a save just outside the post and Balduino drilled a shot wide with the goal gaping. Lagina goalie Dani rode his luck, he needed a second grab to stop a low shot from Balduino and did worse when dropping the ball, it bounced off a defender to Mendy but his poke shot missed the target. When Richard got sent off after 70 minutes it made the task harder but Marino were still the better side.

Airam blasted another effort wide, Lamine won the ball well only to unleash a soft shot that the keeper smothered and Balduino had another couple of near misses. A break from Laguna saw them shoot over the bar and Alberto denied them when the ball was sailing into the top corner of his net. A draw keeps Marino cemented in the top four places but in two legged play off games they will need to kill teams off at home.