Valencia 4 : 1 Rayo Vallecano - Valencia build on Real draw

Posted Wednesday, April 11, 2012 by PA

Valencia underlined their return to form with a thumping 4-1 Primera Division victory over Rayo Vallecano at the Mestalla.

Having held leaders Real Madrid to a goalless draw at the Bernabeu on Sunday, Los Che coach Unai Emery urged his team to kick on against mid-table Rayo and they secured a half-time advantage thanks to Jonas' 40th-minute opener.

The hosts moved up a gear after the interval, Jordi Alba doubling their advantage midway through the second half. Diego Costa pulled one back almost straight away, but a Jonas penalty and further strike from Pablo Hernandez made the points safe.

Chances were few and far between in the opening quarter as both sides struggled to find their rhythm.

Jonas saw a long-range sighter caught by Rayo goalkeeper Joel after 10 minutes and Adil Rami headed wide soon after from Tino Costa's corner.

Joel had to be on his toes in the 27th minute to tip a Pablo Hernandez blast around the post, while opposite number Vicente Guaita was happy to find himself in the right place at the right time to keep out Lass Bangoura's effort.

The visitors suffered a setback just after the half-hour when Mikel Labaka had to be replaced by Roberto Trashorras due to injury.

Jonas tried his luck again from distance in the 34th minute and, although his drive flew over the bar, his next attempt was to prove more fruitful.

Five minutes before half-time the Brazilian forward slotted a low right-footed shot low into Joel's net from 12 yards.

Diego Costa had a couple of efforts at getting Rayo back on level terms, but his 25-yard effort was comfortably saved by Guaita before the interval and his header soon after drifted wide.

Los Che showed their visitors how it should be done midway through the second half, Alba lashing a left-footed shot into the bottom-left corner from 12 yards.

Rayo responded well to going two down and halved the deficit almost immediately through Diego Costa, who latched on to Miguel Michu's pass and fired low into the corner.

However, Valencia raised their game in the final 20 minutes to take the result away from their opponents.

The referee pointed to the spot in the 74th minute following a foul by Alejandro Arribas on Sofiane Feghouli, and Jonas placed his penalty in the bottom-right corner.

Rayo kept going and made Guaita work to tip a Raul Tamudo header around the post, but moments later Hernandez rubbed salt into the visitors' wounds by smashing a fourth goal into the top-left corner from Sergio Canales' pass.