Suárez strike lifts Levante into fourth
Saturday, February 25, 2012
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Rubén Suárez's late winner against RCD Espanyol secured Levante UD a first Liga victory in ten matches and ensured they replaced their opponents in fourth place.
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Levante UD had Rubén Suárez − and a slice of good fortune − to thank after the midfielder's late winner lifted his side above opponents RCD Espanyol into fourth.
The match looked to be heading for a draw after Kalu Uche (75) rose to head Joan Verdú's free-kick beyond Gustavo Munúa and cancel out Valdo's clinical 24th-minute opener. Yet, with time running out, Suárez delivered a free-kick from the left of the penalty area that took a sizeable deflection off the wall and flew into the bottom right-hand corner.
A comfortable win for Málaga CF at home to rock-bottom Real Zaragoza ensured that they also leapfrogged Espanyol − into fifth, a point behind Levante, whose victory was their first in ten Liga outings.
Aranda (23) gave Zaragoza a surprise lead, but Sebastián Fernández's header levelled matters before the break. Paulo Da Silva turned the ball into his own net on 67 minutes and from there Málaga did not look back, with Martín Demichelis (77), Isco (79) and José Rondón (88) doing the damage.
Elsewhere, Real Betis Balompié were held 1-1 at home by Getafe CF, while a 74th-minute penalty earned Real Racing Club a point against Real Sporting de Gijón.
