Levante sneak it; Depor agony

Levante snatched a late winner against Real Valladolid before city rivals Valencia followed suit at Deportivo La Coruna.

Last Updated: 26/01/13 at 23:05 Post Comment

Juan Ignacio Martinez: Levante boss saw side grab late winner

Juan Ignacio Martinez: Levante boss saw side grab late winner

Antonio Rukavina put through his own net for Valladolid in stoppage time to give Levante a 2-1 win and move them within two points of fourth spot.

Javier Baraja had given the visitors an early lead but Levante responded strongly and equalised two minutes before half-time when Jose Barkero curled in a fine free-kick.

Meanwhile, Valencia scraped past bottom-club Deportivo with a stoppage-time winner of their own to triumph 3-2 in La Coruna.

Jonas had scored for the visitors after just 31 seconds when he headed home a corner at the near post.

And the home fans must have feared the worst when Valencia carved out numerous clear-cut opportunities to add to their lead in the early stages.

But a brace from Riki turned things around. Firstly, the 32-year-old netted with a header just after the half-hour mark to level the scores.

And then in first-half stoppage time he cut in from the right and beat the goalkeeper with his left foot from just outside the area.

Things became more difficult for Depor when Silvio was red carded after the break and Nestor Valdes equalised soon after.

But the bottom club looked to have held on until Ricardo Costa headed home in the dying moments - and there was still time for Paulo Assuncao to see red and reduce Depor to nine men.

Elsewhere, Real Sociedad were unable to make their numerical advantage count as 10-man Celta Vigo held on for a 1-1 draw at Balaidos.

Michael Krohn-Dehli gave Celta the lead with a fine goal but the home side's hopes were hit when Augusto Fernandez received a second yellow card for a handball just after the break.

Gorka Elustondo then brought Sociedad level with a powerful header from Gonzalo Castro's corner just before the hour mark but the in-form Basque side couldn't find a winner.

And finally, Espanyol continued their impressive revival under coach Javier Aguirre by picking up a point with a 0-0 draw at Real Zaragoza.

In a match of few chances, there were no goals but two red cards - Espanyol's Javi Lopez and Cristian Sapunaru of Zaragoza seeing red after each picked up second yellow cards late on.

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