Zaragoza 1-0 Deportivo La Coruna - Zaragoza down Deportivo to move out of drop zone

Posted Sunday, January 23, 2011 by PA

Real Zaragoza beat Deportivo La Coruna to secure a third successive win at La Romareda and move out of the relegation zone for the first time since the beginning of the season.

Javier Aguirre's side came into this match in 18th place, having scraped home wins over Real Sociedad and Levante in the last three weeks.

And they secured a third vital triumph at La Romareda, again by a narrow scoreline, thanks to a goal by Said Boutahar eight minutes before the interval.

The strike was somewhat fortunate because the Dutchman's free-kick took a wicked deflection and wrong-footed Deportivo keeper Daniel Aranzubia on its way to the net.

Both sides had been restricted to long-range efforts in a low-quality first half.

Deportivo had lost their last four games in the league and cup and, like Zaragoza, appeared low on confidence as the match got under way.

Zaragoza, though, sensed the opportunity to move out of the bottom three and held on thanks to some solid defending late in the game, when Deportivo finally put the hosts under some pressure.

It was too little, too late, though, and Zaragoza came closest in the final minutes, when Aranzubia came racing off his line to divert the danger following a quick counter-attacking move from the home side.

Zaragoza move up to 16th place, where they sit two points clear of the relegation zone with 19.

Deportivo, meanwhile, are only two points better off in 13th place after 20 rounds of the championship.