Malaga 5 : 1 Zaragoza - Five-star Malaga crush Zaragoza

Posted Saturday, February 25, 2012 by PA

Malaga came from a goal down to claim a crushing 5-1 victory over Real Zaragoza with four goals in the final 23 minutes condemning the visitors to their 15th defeat of the season.

However, it was Zaragoza who took a shock lead through Carlos Aranda midway through the first half with the hosts only levelling on the stroke of half-time when Sebastian Fernandez headed home.

The game remained at 1-1 until the 67th minute when Paulo Da Silva put through his own goal, triggering strikes by Martin Demichelis, Alarcon Isco and Jose Salomon Rondon.

Victory guided Malaga to fifth but Zaragoza remain firmly rooted to the bottom of the table and are staring relegation in the face.

The hosts made all the early running with Zaragoza goalkeeper Jimenez Roberto called into action, parrying Sebastian Fernandez's close-range volley and it seemed just a matter of time before Malaga made the breakthrough.

However, it was the visitors who took the lead in the 23rd minute when Aranda swept Angel Lafita's cross into the top left-hand corner of the goal.

The hosts almost drew level soon after when Fernandez's shot was somehow tipped round the post by Roberto.

They continued to press but just as if it seemed they would go into half-time 1-0 down, Malaga levelled.

Isco swung in a ball from the left which Fernandez headed home from the six-yard box.

After the break, Malaga finally went ahead in the 67th minute, although it was somewhat fortunate, Da Silva putting the ball into the centre of his own net from 12 yards.

Roberto could do nothing with 13 minutes left when Sanchez Joaquin's cross was headed into the bottom left-hand corner by Demichelis.

Malaga went further ahead two minutes later when Isco slotted home Rondon's pass and Malaga rounded off the rout when Rondon swept home Monreal's cross into the top left-hand corner of the goal.