Real Sociedad 1 - 0 Mallorca - Sociedad edge towards Europe

Posted Monday, February 21, 2011 by PA

Raul Tamudo struck the only goal of the game as Real Sociedad moved to within three points of the European places after seeing off Real Mallorca in testing conditions at Anoeta.

Veteran striker Tamudo headed in his sixth league goal of the season in the 55th minute to settle a contest a few chances played amid heavy wind and rain on the north coast of Spain.

The victory lifts promoted Sociedad up to eighth spot on 34 points, three above Mallorca and three behind sixth-placed Espanyol and the Europa League spots.

The first half was a largely forgettable affair in terms of goalmouth incidents, with the closest either side coming being in the 43rd minute when Tamudo's attempted chip over Dudu Aouate was batted away by the Mallorca goalkeeper.

Sociedad started to take control of the match in the second half, though, and nearly went ahead in the 47th minute when Aouate almost put the ball in his own net in attempting to parry an Antoine Griezmann corner.

The home side did take the lead 10 minutes after the re-start when Tamudo got on the end of Daniel Estrada's right-wing cross and sent a downward header past Aouate at his near post.

Sociedad really should have been celebrating a bigger win by the end, but Tamudo shot wide before Xabi Prieto, standing near the touchline, curled a shot against the crossbar with the goal gaping after Aouate had raced out to deny David Zurutuza.

Mallorca tried to fight their way back into the game and substitute Akihiro Ienaga brought a save out of Claudio Bravo in the 75th minute.

However, as Mallorca pushed forward in search of late equaliser, Sociedad created two great chances to kill the game off, although both were spurned.

Mikel Aranburu fluffed his attempted lob with only Aouate to beat, before Imanol Agirretxe chipped over from the edge of the box with the goal unguarded after Aouate had ventured forward.

Neither of those misses proved costly, though, and the Segunda Division champions could celebrate a win that could get them dreaming of Europe over the next few months rather than just trying to escape relegation.