Valencia beats Gimnastic 4-0 to be second in Spanish league, Real and Atletico draw
The Associated Press
Published: October 1, 2006
MADRID, Spain David Villa scored twice to help Valencia defeat Gimnastic Tarragona 4-0 and rise to second place in the Spanish league on Sunday.
Fernando Morientes opened the scoring in the 14th minute of the fifth-round game at Mestalla stadium by running to the near post to turn home Villa's low cross for his third goal of the season.
Gimnastic, making its return to the first division this season after a 56-year absence, saw its coach Luis Cesar Sampedro ejected six minutes later for protesting the goal should have been disallowed for offside.
Valencia, which trails FC Barcelona on goal difference in the standings, doubled its lead in the 54th when Villa pulled back from Gimnastic's defense to receive Jaime Gavilan's free kick before firing home from just inside the area.
Villa then tapped the ball over the line in the 79th minute for his fourth goal of the season after Gavilan had rounded goalkeeper Albano Bizarri and sent the ball across an empty goal.
Substitute Miguel Angel Angulo, called up for Spain this week, sealed the win five minutes later when he seized on the rebound after Bizarri had parried Edu's shot.
Valencia leapfrogged Real Madrid, which drew 1-1 with crosstown rival Atletico in an earlier game. Miguel Angel "Mista" Ferrer gave Atletico the lead before Raul Gonzalez equalized.
Madrid survived the ejection of Sergio Ramos in the 63rd minute to maintain its unbeaten start to the season, although it dropped to fourth place.
Atletico, which remained without a victory over its local rival since 1999, stayed fifth.
Barcelona, which beat Athletic Bilbao 3-1 on Saturday, and Valencia have 13 points, while Sevilla has 12. Madrid has 11, one more than Atletico, Deportivo La Coruna and Recreativo Huelva.
Also, it was: Sevilla 1, Getafe 0; Mallorca 1, Villarreal 2; Zaragoza 2, Levante 2; Racing Santander 1, Celta Vigo 1; Deportivo 2, Real Sociedad 0; Recreativo 2, Real Betis 0; and Espanyol 0, Osasuna 0.
Atletico's Mista gave his team a fine start at Santiago Bernabeu stadium by scoring from close range in the sixth minute off a headed pass from Maxi Rodriguez.
The visitors created further chances before being set back in the 37th when Raul ran in to sidefoot past goalkeeper Leo Franco from Jose Maria "Guti" Gutierrez's floated cross.
The goal continued Raul's contrasting fortunes of late. The striker was recently dropped from Spain's squad for the first time in a decade but has scored three times this week, ending a drought which stretched back to last October.
Ramos' ejection for elbowing Atletico captain Fernando Torres in the face came seven minutes before David Beckham replaced Guti. The former England captain was omitted from the starting lineup for the fourth straight game.
Madrid coach Fabio Capello then gave Ronaldo some action of the season from the 81st minute in place of Ruud van Nistelrooy. The Brazilian striker, who had knee surgery after the World Cup, made a brief appearance last Tuesday in Madrid's 5-1 Champions League win over Dynamo Kiev.
Madrid's players took the field wearing white T-shirts bearing the message "Cheer up Cicinho" as a dedication to the Brazilian left back, who recently tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and is expected to be sidelined until March.
Sevilla could breach a disciplined Getafe defense only once when Brazilian striker Luis Fabiano poked the ball home in the 31st minute.
Villarreal gained its second straight win thanks to Diego Forlan's two goals in a four-minute spell during the first half. Serbian midfielder Bosko Jankovic replied for Mallorca in the 58th minute.
Zaragoza staged a second-half comeback to draw with newly promoted Levante.
The visitors took a two-goal lead before halftime through Diego Camacho and Olivier Kapo — the Ivorian midfielder's third goal in a week — with Albert Celades and Diego Milito replying for Zaragoza.
Santander's Cristian Alvarez missed a last-minute penalty to leave his side winless after a 1-1 draw with Celta.
Santander striker Nikola Zigic opened the scoring in the 24th minute for his third goal in his second game since joining from Red Star Belgrade. Brazilian midfielder Iriney leveled in the 56th.
Santander's Oriol Lozano was ejected just before the final whistle.
Deportivo's Antonio Barragan and Ivan "Riki" Sanchez-Rico scored spectacular late goals to leave winless Sociedad in last place.
Two late goals by Florent Sinama Pongolle and Javi Guerrero gave newly promoted Recreativo a victory over Betis.
Espanyol and Osasuna, which both reached the UEFA Cup group stage on Thursday, played out a lifeless 0-0 draw.
MADRID, Spain David Villa scored twice to help Valencia defeat Gimnastic Tarragona 4-0 and rise to second place in the Spanish league on Sunday.
Fernando Morientes opened the scoring in the 14th minute of the fifth-round game at Mestalla stadium by running to the near post to turn home Villa's low cross for his third goal of the season.
Gimnastic, making its return to the first division this season after a 56-year absence, saw its coach Luis Cesar Sampedro ejected six minutes later for protesting the goal should have been disallowed for offside.
Valencia, which trails FC Barcelona on goal difference in the standings, doubled its lead in the 54th when Villa pulled back from Gimnastic's defense to receive Jaime Gavilan's free kick before firing home from just inside the area.
Villa then tapped the ball over the line in the 79th minute for his fourth goal of the season after Gavilan had rounded goalkeeper Albano Bizarri and sent the ball across an empty goal.
Substitute Miguel Angel Angulo, called up for Spain this week, sealed the win five minutes later when he seized on the rebound after Bizarri had parried Edu's shot.
Valencia leapfrogged Real Madrid, which drew 1-1 with crosstown rival Atletico in an earlier game. Miguel Angel "Mista" Ferrer gave Atletico the lead before Raul Gonzalez equalized.
Madrid survived the ejection of Sergio Ramos in the 63rd minute to maintain its unbeaten start to the season, although it dropped to fourth place.
Atletico, which remained without a victory over its local rival since 1999, stayed fifth.
Barcelona, which beat Athletic Bilbao 3-1 on Saturday, and Valencia have 13 points, while Sevilla has 12. Madrid has 11, one more than Atletico, Deportivo La Coruna and Recreativo Huelva.
Also, it was: Sevilla 1, Getafe 0; Mallorca 1, Villarreal 2; Zaragoza 2, Levante 2; Racing Santander 1, Celta Vigo 1; Deportivo 2, Real Sociedad 0; Recreativo 2, Real Betis 0; and Espanyol 0, Osasuna 0.
Atletico's Mista gave his team a fine start at Santiago Bernabeu stadium by scoring from close range in the sixth minute off a headed pass from Maxi Rodriguez.
The visitors created further chances before being set back in the 37th when Raul ran in to sidefoot past goalkeeper Leo Franco from Jose Maria "Guti" Gutierrez's floated cross.
The goal continued Raul's contrasting fortunes of late. The striker was recently dropped from Spain's squad for the first time in a decade but has scored three times this week, ending a drought which stretched back to last October.
Ramos' ejection for elbowing Atletico captain Fernando Torres in the face came seven minutes before David Beckham replaced Guti. The former England captain was omitted from the starting lineup for the fourth straight game.
Madrid coach Fabio Capello then gave Ronaldo some action of the season from the 81st minute in place of Ruud van Nistelrooy. The Brazilian striker, who had knee surgery after the World Cup, made a brief appearance last Tuesday in Madrid's 5-1 Champions League win over Dynamo Kiev.
Madrid's players took the field wearing white T-shirts bearing the message "Cheer up Cicinho" as a dedication to the Brazilian left back, who recently tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and is expected to be sidelined until March.
Sevilla could breach a disciplined Getafe defense only once when Brazilian striker Luis Fabiano poked the ball home in the 31st minute.
Villarreal gained its second straight win thanks to Diego Forlan's two goals in a four-minute spell during the first half. Serbian midfielder Bosko Jankovic replied for Mallorca in the 58th minute.
Zaragoza staged a second-half comeback to draw with newly promoted Levante.
The visitors took a two-goal lead before halftime through Diego Camacho and Olivier Kapo — the Ivorian midfielder's third goal in a week — with Albert Celades and Diego Milito replying for Zaragoza.
Santander's Cristian Alvarez missed a last-minute penalty to leave his side winless after a 1-1 draw with Celta.
Santander striker Nikola Zigic opened the scoring in the 24th minute for his third goal in his second game since joining from Red Star Belgrade. Brazilian midfielder Iriney leveled in the 56th.
Santander's Oriol Lozano was ejected just before the final whistle.
Deportivo's Antonio Barragan and Ivan "Riki" Sanchez-Rico scored spectacular late goals to leave winless Sociedad in last place.
Two late goals by Florent Sinama Pongolle and Javi Guerrero gave newly promoted Recreativo a victory over Betis.
Espanyol and Osasuna, which both reached the UEFA Cup group stage on Thursday, played out a lifeless 0-0 draw.
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