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Deportivo sweep aside Villarreal
Deportivo La Coruna kept up their battle for the top places in the Primera Liga with a 2-0 win at Villarreal. The Galician side had one of the best results in their history on Wednesday as they beat Champions League holders AC Milan 4-0 at the Riazor. In doing so they overturned a 4-1 deficit from the first leg and reached the Champions League semi-finals. But Javier Irureta's team are not allowing themselves any time to celebrate when there are still a stack of points separating them and league leaders Real Madrid. Speaking ahead of Sunday's game, Depor goalkeeper Jose Molina said: "Life continues in football and you cannot live in the past whether it is bad or good. On Sunday we have a crucial game against Villarreal." The cautious attitude paid off with goals from Walter Pandiani and Diego Tristan at the El Madrigal stadium. Deportivo started the game well - earning themselves a penalty in the 16th minute when a cross into the box from Sergio hit the hand of Villarreal defender Quique Alverez. But home goalkeeper Jose Manuel Reina produced a fantastic save to deny Walter Pandiani from the spot. Motivated by Reina's heroics, Villarreal went on the attack with Manuel Fernandez Victor finding himself in a goalscoring position, but his shot was blocked and team-mate Juliano Belletti connected with the rebound but fired wide. Pandiani redeemed himself following the unsuccessful spot-kick by putting Depor ahead in the 37th minute. Mauro Silva managed to pinch the ball after Reina rolled it ball out, crossing to Pandiani who headed home. Villarreal made a couple of strategic changes at the break, including the removal of on-loan Barcelona midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme who had been having a poor game. But Deportivo were in complete command of events in the second half and the game was put beyond the hosts in the 90th minute when Diego Tristan chipped Reina to make it 2-0. The goalkeeper did manage to crawl back to his line to get a hand to the ball but he could not stop it from going in. The hosts claimed Tristan was offside, but their appeals fell on deaf ears. |
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