Mallorca deny Valencia with late penalty

Real Mallorca enjoyed a dramatic start to life under new coach Joaquin Caparros after snatching a 1-1 draw against Valencia with a last-minute penalty. Valencia looked certain to claim all three points after taking the lead through Adil Rami in the 38th minute. But the home side refused to throw in the towel and were rewarded for their persistence in the closing moments when Mehmet Topal was penalised for handball. Striker Tomer Hemed accepted responsibility for the spot-kick and calmly slotted into the bottom corner to delight the majority of the 15,000-strong crowd. Caparros was appointed before the international break following the resignation of Michael Laudrup, and the former Villarreal, Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao coach will be looking for improvement from his side as they bid to climb the table. Valencia started brightly and created the first opening after just 35 seconds, but Pablo Piatti fired wide following a corner from Sergio Canales. Mallorca took nearly a quarter of an hour to fashion their first chance, Jose Luis Marti's corner being met by Victor Casadesus, but his header was straight at goalkeeper Vicente Guaita. Penalty saves point Clear chances were few and far between until Valencia took the lead seven minutes before the break when Rami met Dani Parejo's corner and steered the ball into the bottom corner from six yards. The home side were unable to respond before the interval and struggled to create chances in the second half as well. Two corners in quick succession were cleared by Valencia, who quickly broke up the field and saw another Parejo corner headed over from close range by Rami. Hemed seemed to have wasted his side's best chance of an equaliser when he also headed over from six yards on 72 minutes, but there was still time for late drama. Topal was adjudged to have handled in the area and Hemed made amends for his earlier miss with a cool penalty to claim a point.