Madrid, May 12 (IANS) Rayo Vallecano kept alive its slim chance of qualifying for the Europa League with a 2-0 win over Getafe in the La liga, which remain uncomfortably close to the relegation zone.
Getafe’s fifth consecutive loss on Monday left the club in the 15th place with 36 points, just five above the bottom three, reports Efe.
Eleventh-placed Rayo extended its unbeaten streak to five matches and boosted its points total to 46. The club is four points away from the seventh spot, the final Europa League berth, with two matches to play.
Rayo, playing on its home ground at Vallecas stadium, was the more ambitious side from the start, though a volley from 30 meters by Getafe’s Diego Castro gave opposing goalkeeper David Cobeno a scare.
The home side took the lead at the 28-minute mark, when Manucho outpaced Getafe defender Velazquez and put away Adrian Embarba’s cross from the left side.
Once on the scoreboard, Rayo started showing more confidence and fluidity with the ball.
Getafe threatened to equalise just four minutes into the second half, as Cobeno was forced to make a diving save on Sergio Escudero’s shot from distance.
The chance lifted the visitors’ spirits and coach Pablo Franco sent in one of Getafe’s most creative players, Pablo Sarabia, to intensify the pursuit for the tying goal.
Rayo sealed the victory with a goal in the 73rd minute by Nicolas “Miku” Ladislao, who had entered the game 12 minutes earlier as a substitute for Manucho.
The final minutes of the match were marred by a clash between Rayo’s Javier Aquino and Getafe defender Roberto Lago that led to both players shown red cards.