Getafe 1 : 0 Real Sociedad - Martinez the fall guy

Posted Saturday, March 17, 2012 by PA

An Inigo Martinez own-goal 10 minutes from time was enough to hand Getafe all three points in a tepid 1-0 Primera Division win over Real Sociedad.

The visitors should have taken the lead after just 12 minutes as a loose ball on the edge of the area fell to Asier Illarramendi but with goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya out of position he could only sidefoot the ball wide. Miku then had just as good a chance to put Getafe in front seven minutes before half-time but he also failed to hit the target with just Claudio Bravo to beat.

Both sides had half-chances after the break but neither seemed capable of creating a move worthy of winning the game until Getafe got a bit of luck when Abel Barrada's cross was punched by Bravo into Martinez's midriff and the ball rebounded into the empty net.

Wins for both sides last time out had eased the pressure and the prospect of a relegation battle, but that did not result in a free-flowing game as with both managers employing a 4-5-1 system the two sides largely cancelled each other out as they had in the 0-0 draw when they met earlier in the season.

Sociedad were first to threaten when Moya had to come quickly off his line to deny Carlos Vela and the ball broke to Illarramendi just outside the area, but with two Getafe players on the line the Spain Under-21 international was forced to try to place the ball in the corner and his effort trickled just wide.

Antoine Griezmann passed up another opportunity for the visitors as his shot from close range was deflected wide before Miku somehow blazed over after Barrada's wonderful pass had put him clean through on goal.

Alexis fired off-target when well placed just after the break and at the other end Vela was denied from a narrow angle by Moya, but the goal the game needed finally arrived when Barrada's dangerous ball into the box forced Bravo to come for it and his attempted clearance only succeeded in playing the ball in off Martinez.

The Chilean keeper redeemed himself a few minutes later as he saved Dani Guiza's effort when the striker was through one-on-one, but it was to no avail as Getafe comfortably held on to move above the Basques and up into 10th in the table.