Sporting de Gijon 2 : 0 Granada CF - Sporting finally emerge victorious - 7M sport

Sporting de Gijon 2 : 0 Granada CF - Sporting finally emerge victorious



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Posted Saturday, October 22, 2011 by PA

Sporting produced a stunning first-half display to secure their first win of the season in a 2-0 success over Granada in the Primera Division.

The hosts started with a bang as Diego Barral put them in front after only five minutes.

The striker did well to turn inside the box, but Granada keeper Roberto will be disappointed to have been beaten at his near post.

Granada then came into the game with Dani Benitez lively on the left and he had an angled shot beaten away by Juan Pablo before Alex Geijo was extremely unlucky not to bring the visitors level as his effort struck the post.

Castro doubled Sporting's advantage after another error from Ricardo just before half-time and despite controlling the game for much of the second period Granada could not find a way back into the game as Benitez and Geijo missed glorious opportunities.

The pressure was on Marcelo Preciado to deliver Sporting's first victory of the season against a fellow contender for relegation and his players rewarded the faith he had shown in them by naming an unchanged line-up with a blistering start.

A long-range effort from Barral had forced Ricardo into a smart save after two minutes but the striker only had to wait three minutes more to score for the second consecutive game.

Barral did well to turn on the bye-line inside the area but his shot at the near post should have been better dealt with by Roberto who could only bundle the ball into the net.

Sporting continued to push forward but after a shaky start - which was compounded by losing Hassan Yebda to a hamstring injury - Granada began to make chances of their own.

Benitez was a constant threat on the left and his shot as he turned inside on to his right foot was well parried by Pablo.

Benitez then just could not make the telling touch at the back post after a wonderful run and cross by right-back Allan Romeo Nyom.

Granada's next opportunity was the product of a wonderful flowing move that saw Benitez's cross headed back to the edge of the area by Ikechukwu Uche and Geijo's shot come back off the post.

Sporting weathered that storm and started to control the game again in the final 15 minutes of the first half.

Barral and Miguel De Las Cuevas saw efforts fly just off target before they doubled their lead four minutes before the break.

Ricardo flapped at Alberto Lora's cross and only succeeded in pushing the ball against his own defender, leaving Castro free to tap into an empty net.

Pablo denied Uche just before the break after another fine move from the visitors and Granada's pass and move football continued to impress in the second period but went without reward.

Geijo slide in to divert Guillherme Siquiera's through ball towards goal but the ball drifted inches past before Benitez blazed wildly over after more good work from Nyom.



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