Diego Colotto netted an 88th-minute equaliser for Espanyol in their 2-2 draw with Rayo Vallecano in La Liga this evening.

Christian Stuani put the home side ahead just three minutes into the game when he slotted home after Pizzi had accelerated past Ze Castro down the right wing and centred for the midfielder.

The visitors almost hit back within a couple of minutes, but Kiko Casilla was happy to see Joaquin Larrivey's looping header drop onto the roof of the net.

Midway through the half, Sergio Garcia was bundled over clumsily by Ze Castro, but the referee waved away the protests of the home support.

With half time approaching, the visitors got back on level terms. Alberto Bueno pounced on a slip by David Lopez and fed Iago Falque, who coolly placed the ball into the top corner to make it 1-1.

Just five minutes after the break, Larrivey turned the game on its head when he attacked a deep cross on the edge of the box and nodded it beyond the reach of Casilla, who had strayed too far off his line.

Casilla redeemed himself on the hour mark when he tipped Ruben Rochina's left-footed strike behind for a corner as Rayo pushed for another goal.

A third Rayo goal was disallowed after Bueno was adjudged to have been offside when tapping home from Larrivey's cross.

The miss proved costly, as Colotto rose highest from a corner to nod the ball into the back of the net and earn a draw for his side.