Zaragoza 2 - 2 Sporting de Gijon - Postiga leaves it late for Zaragoza

Posted Sunday, November 06, 2011 by PA

An injury-time strike from Helder Postiga salvaged a point for Real Zaragoza in a 2-2 draw against Sporting Gijon at La Romareda.

The Aragon side were on the verge of a fourth successive defeat until Postiga pounced. David Barral's brace helped Sporting recover from a goal down after Alberto Botia headed into his own goal in the 28th minute.

Sporting are now unbeaten in four but Manolo Preciado's men could rue these two dropped points come the end of the Primera Division season.

Juan Carlos Perez flashed wide the first chance of the game with a left-foot shot in the fifth minute for the home side before Miguel De Las Cuevas fired wide from 20 yards for Sporting.

Luis Garcia came close for Zaragoza with a curling 25th-minute free-kick which Juan Pablo Colinas did well to parry, and within three minutes the hosts were ahead.

Juan Carlos crossed from the right and Botia headed into his own net to delight La Romareda.

The lead was short-lived however as Sporting equalised within two minutes. De Las Cuevas' pass from the left found Barral in the box and his right-foot shot from 12 yards found the target.

The visitors were ahead two minutes before half-time when Andre Castro crossed from the left and Barral was again on hand to score, this time turning the ball in from six yards.

Colinas got down well to hold on to Paulo Da Silva's header from a Garcia corner early in the second period. Garcia then fired a free-kick over from the edge of the box after 55 minutes following a foul by Sebastian Eguren.

The hosts continued to apply the pressure as Portuguese forward Postiga lifted a shot from 12 yards over, but their frustration at their inability to get back into the game was compounded by yellow cards for Leonardo Ponzio and Javier Paredes.

Ivan Hernandez fired a chance for a third wide for Sporting with 14 minutes to go, pulling a shot wide of Roberto's goal, before Colinas produced a terrific save to tip Angel Lafita's left-foot shot from 20 yards around the post.

Botia was booked six minutes from time and was substituted in the 88th minute to complete a miserable day on a personal note, and he was forced to watch on as Sporting let their lead slip in the third minute of stoppage time as Postiga drilled a right-foot shot home from 12 yards.