Ten-man Eibar hold Alaves in Spanish football league

Deportivo Alaves let visiting Eibar off the hook, settling for a 0-0 draw in their Spanish football league match despite enjoying a one man advantage for more than two-thirds of the match.

The hosts had the upper hand from the 25th minute during Thursday night's La Liga match, when Eibar goalkeeper Asier Riesgo was ejected for handling the ball outside the 18-yard box, but failed to capitalise, reports Efe news agency.

Alaves looked like the more ambitious side in the early exchanges, though the first chance of the night went to Eibar, a Florian Lejeune header in the 8th minute that home side keeper Fernando Pacheco handled with little trouble.

A strike by Edgar Mendez in the 16th minute that would have put Alaves ahead 1-0 bounced harmlessly off the crossbar.

Five minutes later, Riesgo denied Victor Camarasa.

On the first offensive move for Alaves after Riesgo was sent off, a magnificent corner by Alaves' Ibai Gomez hit the post.

Eibar substitute keeper Yoel derailed another Alaves chance in the 43rd minute, diverting a pass headed for Deyverson in front of goal, while the half ended with Pacheco making a save on Lejeune's powerful free kick from a distance.

The visitors had more of the ball in the opening minutes of the second half and Alaves didn't threaten again until the 63rd minute, when Camarasa failed to execute the header after a great ball from Kiko Femenia.

Yoel stymied Oscar Romero in the 88th, while Lejeune stood on the line to stop a Deyervson shot in the final seconds of regulation.

Alaves, sitting 10th with 45 points from 34 matches, missed an opportunity to gain ground on the teams above, including eighth-place Eibar, who remain within seven points of sixth place and a Europa League berth.

--IANS

ajb/bg