Sporting de Gijon 2 : 1 Racing de Santander - Gijon guarantee survival

Posted Sunday, May 15, 2011 by PA

Sporting Gijon secured their Primera Division survival by coming from behind to beat Racing Santander 2-1.

Christian put the visitors ahead against the run of play in the 32nd minute but Miguel de las Cuevas levelled just before half-time and Nacho Novo grabbed the winner six minutes after the interval.

The result moved Sporting up to a healthy ninth place and level on points with opponents Racing - four points clear of the drop zone with only one game remaining.

Neither goalkeeper was overly tested in the first half-hour, De las Cuevas lashing over for Sporting and Christian heading wide for Racing.

Diego Castro had a couple of further efforts from distance for Sporting but there was nothing to worry Mario Fernandez until Novo's 16th-minute shot, which needed parrying.

Fernandez was again in the right place to keep out a David Barral shot in the 21st minute as Sporting continued to pepper their opponents' goal.

The hosts' next attack almost resulted in the opening goal for Castro, whose right-footed shot hit the post.

Racing keeper Fernandez saved another De las Cuevas effort and then got in the way of another Barral header to keep his side on level terms.

When the breakthrough arrived in the 32nd minute it was against the run of play, Christian slotting a left-footed shot into the bottom-right corner from Alexis Tziolis' cross.

Sporting were denied by the woodwork for a second time nine minutes before the interval, De las Cuevas this time the unlucky player as his 20-yard effort struck the post.

Fernandez kept out a close-range Novo shot in the 42nd minute but two minutes later the home team got the equaliser they deserved, De las Cuevas' low shot from Castro's pass finding the net.

Sporting continued to push forward after the interval, and were rewarded in the 51st minute with what proved to be the decisive goal. De las Cuevas provided the cross from the right and Novo made no mistake from six yards.

Manuel Preciado's side could have extended their lead but Fernandez tipped around the post from Barral's header and then caught another header from the same player from the resulting corner.

Castro then twice went close, firstly denied by Fernandez from close range and then blasting wide from 20 yards, before De las Cuevas too saw another effort tipped around the post by the Racing keeper, but Sporting had done enough.