Mallorca, Athletic keep up chase for Europe
Source: Agencies |
April 13, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
MALLORCA and Athletic Bilbao kept up their chase for a Champions League place next season with victories in the Spanish league on Sunday.
Mallorca beat third-place Valencia 3-2 to join Sevilla, which is fourth, on 51 points while Athletic cruised to a 4-1 win over Almeria to stay three points off the last qualifying spot for Europe's top-tier competition.
Chori Castro and Pierre Webo scored first-half goals for Mallorca before Jordi Alba reduced Valencia's deficit just after the restart. Valencia midfielder Manuel Fernandes' own goal in the 63rd minute proved to be the winner, with the visitor pulling a goal back with four minutes left through Pablo Hernandez.
Javi Martinez scored two goals - one of them following an impressive dribble around three defenders inside the area - for Athletic while Igor Gabilondo and Fernando Llorente were also on target.
Also on Sunday, Toni Moral's 84th-minute equalizer earned relegation-battling Racing Santander a 1-1 draw at Deportivo La Coruna, Osasuna beat Zaragoza 2-0 and Espanyol was a 3-0 winner over Atletico Madrid.
Castro beat Valencia goalkeeper Cesar Sanchez with a shot in the seventh minute as Mallorca started well and Webo headed home a corner in the 22nd minute for 2-0.
Alba scored from a counterattack just after halftime but Valencia's frail defense was at fault for Mallorca's third, Fernandes sending Castro's center into the roof of his own net with Aritz Aduritz threatening to tap in at the far post.
Mallorca goalkeeper Dudu Aouate saved Nicola Zigic's volley before Hernandez slipped a ball home with four minutes remaining. David Silva could have equalized for Valencia in injury time but he shot over.
Spain striker David Villa watched from the bench after being rested by Valencia coach Unai Emery.
Athletic peppered Almeria's goal from the start and Martinez shrugged off his marker to head home a corner kick for the 13th-minute opener.
Gabilondo doubled the lead in the 32nd after unleashing a left-footed shot from outside the area that squeezed past goalkeeper Diego Alves and went in off the near post.
Martinez was left shaking his head in disbelief after his slick skills made it 3-0 in the 49th minute. The 21-year-old midfielder broke into the area, dribbled around three defenders before tucking his shot in at the near post past Alves.
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