Atletico de Madrid 2 : 1 Malaga - Atletico secure vital triumph

Posted Saturday, May 05, 2012 by PA

Atletico Madrid scored twice in the final 25 minutes to keep their hopes of Champions League qualification alive with a 2-1 win over Malaga.

The visitors had the better of the opening period and deservedly took the lead eight minutes before the break when Eliseu's wonder strike from fully 30 yards rocketed into the top corner.

However, Atleti improved greatly after the break and were back on level terms midway through the half thanks to another brilliant strike, this time from Koke.

And Adrian Lopez completed the comeback as he raced onto along ball over the top to slot past Carlos Kameni and bring Diego Simeone's men to within two points of Malaga in fourth with just one game to play.

The Argentinean manager had surprised many choosing not to rest any of his stars ahead of Wednesday's Europa League final against Athletic Bilbao, and in the first period that decision appeared to have backfired as the hosts failed to gain any control over the game.

Isco should have done better when put through one-on-one with Thibaut Courtois after just four minutes, but the Belgian keeper stood up well to turn the ball to safety.

Salomon Rondon was then guilty of spurning two great chances as he headed Joaquin's cross over from six yards before scuffing his shot wide after Miranda's awful control had presented Isco with possession inside the Atleti area.

However, the hosts should have been in front moments later as a lightening quick counter-attack saw Adrian break free down the left and his cross picked out Radamel Falcao perfectly at the back post, but the Colombian somehow failed to turn in his 34th goal of the season as his effort flashed wide.

Malaga did finally take the lead just before the break as Eliseu latched onto a loose ball outside the area and thumped his first time shot into Courtois' top right-hand corner.

Atleti responded well to going behind though and Adrian was unfortunate just before the hour mark as he rounded Kameni, but just took the ball too far wide to get a clear shot at goal and his ball back into the middle was eventually cleared.

Koke gave the keeper no chance five minutes later as Kameni could only punch Diego's corner clear to the edge of the area where the substitute was waiting to fire a volley back through a crowd of players into the bottom corner.

Atleti were now well on top and Adrian put them in front with 10 minutes remaining as a long ball through the middle broke off Falcao for the Spain Under-21 international to race through and calmly stroke the ball past Kameni for his seventh league goal of the season.

However, Malaga could still count themselves unlucky to have left the capital empty handed as they had a goal disallowed for offside in stoppage time despite Nacho Camacho clearly being in line with the last Atleti defender.