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Valencia go top after narrow win
Valencia stepped up their push for the Primera Liga title as Miguel Angulo's second-half strike gave them a narrow win at the La Romareda stadium. Having been buoyed by a pre-match pep talk from defender Roberto Ayala, who believes that Rafael Benitez's team can complete a league and UEFA Cup double, this victory boosts Valencia's prospects of repeating their 2002 domestic triumph. Copa del Rey winners Real Zaragoza were without defender David Pirri for the game, although the hosts made a very good start, having the majority of possession. It took Valencia half an hour to get going. Angulo missed an easy opportunity when errors by Gabriel Milito and goalkeeper Cesar Lainez presented him with a sight of goal, but the best chance of the first half fell to Valencia two minutes prior to the interval. Veteran full-back Amedeo Carboni launched a phenomenal free-kick towards the top left corner of the Zaragoza goal, but Lainez proved equal to his effort. Valencia took the initiative after the break and Benitez's side were the better team in both attack and defence. Jose Movilla kept up the home side's battle for the opening goal but his attempt went wide. Valencia broke the deadlock after 70 minutes just as Zaragoza looked to be taking greater control of events. In what constituted a major defensive error on the part of the hosts, Angulo - finding himself alone in the area - struck with a header after connecting with a Jorge Lopez cross. Carboni almost gifted Zaragoza an equaliser with an own goal with nine minutes remaining but, luckily for him, the ball stayed out. |
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