Valladolid 0 : 2 Celta Vigo - Aspas gives Celta hope

Posted Monday, May 27, 2013 by PA

Celta Vigo ensured their fight for Primera Division survival will go down to the final day after claiming an impressive win 2-0 on the road at Valladolid.

Gustavo Cabral opened the scoring in the first half before the highly-rated Iago Aspas doubled the advantage from the spot after the break.

The win sees Celta climb from the foot of the standings to third-bottom, a point behind Deportivo La Coruna, who are now the only side other than the current bottom three embroiled in the fight for survival.

The visitors came into the match effectively five points from safety due to Deportivo having the better head-to-head record between the sides this season, and knowing defeat would seal their fate a year on from earning promotion.

The task for the visitors was simple: win tonight and then take maximum points from their final game of the season next weekend, at home to Espanyol.

Part one of their task was completed with relative ease tonight, and indeed were it not for the impressive Jaime in the Valladolid goal, the margin of victory would have been greater.

The home goalkeeper had no chance with Celta's opener, however, Cabral nodding in from six yards after connecting with Augusto Fernandez's headed assist in the 28th minute.

Manucho had a chance to level for the hosts deep into stoppage time at the end of the half but Ruben Blanco made a good save.

Jaime's first telling contribution came in the 49th minute when he clawed away Aspas' left-footed drive from the angle.

Seven minutes later Aspas did have the ball in the net, however, the striker tucking away a penalty awarded after Marc Valiente handled in the area.

Celta poured forward in search of a third but Michael Krohn-Delhi, Natxo Insa and Fabian Orellana were all thwarted by Jaime in a crazy two-minute spell.

Blanco in the opposite goal was not to be outdone and produced good stops from Oscar Garcia and Patrick Ebert to preserve his clean sheet, while Roberto Lago was denied by more good work by Jaime late on as Celta finished with their tails up.

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