Spain: Negredo nets late to give Sevilla draw at Espanyol

Spain striker Alvaro Negredo returned from injury to score an injury-time equalizer and secure 10-man Sevilla a 2-2 draw at struggling Espanyol in the Spanish league on Friday.

After Espanyol's Joan Verdu and Sevilla's Ivan Rakitic had both scored penalties in the 13th and 24th minutes, Sevilla went a man down when Jose Antonio Reyes was booked for a second time in five minutes in the 38th.

Substitute Simao Sabrosa scored after one minute on the pitch in the 60th to give Espanyol what appeared to be the winner in the home debut of new coach Javier Aguirre.

But Negredo, who went on the 65th after having missed the last two weeks with a muscle injury, ran clear to head home Jorge "Coke'' Moreno's cross in stoppage time.

"My team played better with 10 players and then played much better at 2-1 down,'' said Sevilla coach Michel Gonzalez. "And for that I have to congratulate them.''

Sevilla had lost its previous four away matches. It moved up provisionally into 10th place with the draw.

Espanyol remained in the relegation zone with only one home victory in eight games at Cornella-El Prat stadium.

"You cannot ask for more effort from the team, better football yes, but it is improving after only 180 minutes of play and four training sessions,'' said Aguirre. "The three points would have been a real boost for my players. But we are moving forward step by step.''

Aguirre, a former Mexico manager, replaced the fired Mauricio Pochettino last week. He earned an away draw in his first game with his new club, his fourth in the Spain's top flight division.