Milk Cup debutants Malàga CF of Spain met Scottish side Partick Thistle in their second game of the tournament, at Riada Stadium, Ballymoney.
Malàga were looking to bounce back from defeat against CSKA Moscow in their first game, and made a bright start, enjoying majority of the possession whilst also winning a total of five corners within the opening ten minutes. However, the breakthrough came for the dominant Spaniards, as a slick passing routine freed Alejandro Escardo Llamas who picked out an inch perfect pass to find Brian Rasero Nieto, who made no mistake when it came to the finish. Malàga continued their dominance, with Jhoseppy Magalhaes Dias combining well with Cristobal Santiago down the right throughout the half. Malàga once again got another well deserved goal, as pacy leftback Jose Luis Caballero Nunes beat his man to provide a cross for Alejandro Escardo Llamas, who scored with ease. Escardo Llamas then had a chance to score again, but headed just wide.
More poor defending in the second half gifted Alejandro Escardo Llamas a well deserved second goal, as he capitalised with a well placed shot. Two minutes later Thistle were four-nil down, as Francisco Pedrosa Valverdre showed fantastic technical ability to beat two defenders before excellently slotting the ball underneath Thistle Goalkeeper Kieran Bell. At this point, the match was all Malàga, who were beginning to frustrate their Scottish opponents with their slick passing, with Pablo Alejandro Roca Gonzalez particularly impressing in the heart of the midfield. More loose defending led to a shot from Malàga substitute Jose Antonio Montero Mananzo, which was parried directly into the path of substitute Jorge Heredia Rodriguez, who easily put the ball into the net. The classy Men from Malàga march on.
Match Report by Nathan Thompson