Deportivo La Coruna 0-2 Valencia - Defeat sends Deportivo down

Posted Saturday, May 21, 2011 by PA

Deportivo La Coruna were relegated from the Primera Division after going down 2-0 at home to Valencia.

Real Zaragoza's 2-1 win at Levante lifted them out of the bottom three at the expense of Depor, who finished a point from safety.

Aritz Aduriz put Valencia ahead in the fourth minute and the hosts' fate was sealed when Roberto Soldado grabbed a second deep into stoppage time.

Depor started the final day with their destiny still in their own hands, one point clear of Zaragoza and danger.

But things started to go wrong almost immediately as Joaquin's cross picked out Aduriz to open the scoring.

Riki headed over the bar and then shot high as Depor responded and the striker was unlucky to see his header from Andres Guardado's free-kick come back off a post.

Valencia were still looking dangerous and Daniel Aranzubia had to tip over an Juan Mata effort before the Spain international shot wide from close range.

Riki was looking like Depor's most likely source of an equaliser and he had a shot blocked by goalkeeper Cesar on the stroke of half-time.

Cesar kept his side in front again in the 62nd minute as he tipped over another Riki header, this time from a Juan Carlos Valeron free-kick.

The hosts were still looking susceptible at the back, though, and Mata was denied by a parry from Aranzubia, who then tipped a right-footed shot from Aduriz round the post.

With Zaragoza winning, and Getafe, Real Sociedad and Osasuna also on track to pick up points, Depor were getting desperate as they sought preserve their top-flight status.

Xisco had a header tipped over from Cesar but, in the sixth minute of injury time, Soldado converted Joaquin's pass for Valencia's second to send Depor down.