Alaves 3 - 1 Granada CF: Alaves end goal drought at home to defeat struggling Granada

Posted Tuesday, September 27, 2016 by PA

Alaves finally found their scoring touch at home to beat LaLiga strugglers Granada 3-1.

The promoted Basques had made a promising start to life in the top flight by losing only one of their first five games.

But Alaves had failed to score at the Estadio Mendizorrotza with Sporting Gijon and Deportivo La Coruna holding them to goalless draws.

The wait for a goal, however, ended after 52 minutes as Edgar Mendez burst on to Victor Camarasa's pass and he punished his former club with a composed sidefoot finish.

Camarasa doubled Alaves' lead after 66 minutes and Granada's dubious defending was again exposed in stoppage time by Acosta Deyverson.

Granada had been given brief hope 12 minutes from time when Andreas Pereira, on loan from Manchester United, supplied a wonderful cross which substitute Artem Kravets met on the volley.

The excitement of the second half was in contrast to a first period which was low on chances and quality.

Alaves' early momentum quickly petered out and Alberto Bueno wasted an inviting opening for the visitors.

Granada might have had a 25th-minute penalty but Kiko Femenia's clear shove on Pereira went unnoticed.

But Granada had their own escape when Gaston Silva, under no pressure, sliced the ball into his own net only for his blushes to be spared by a Deyverson handball during the build-up.

Deyverson forced a fine save from Guillermo Ochoa close to the break, but the Granada goalkeeper had no chance in the second half as LaLiga's most porous defence caved in.