Sangoy Sporting's hero

A goal in each half by Gaston Sangoy lifted Sporting Gijon to a crucial 2-1 victory over Real Betis that keeps their Primera Division survival hopes alive heading into the final week of the season.

The win lifted second-bottom Sporting onto 37 points, three behind Real Zaragoza and Rayo Vallecano - the latter occupying the final position of safety - ahead of their match against Malaga next week.

Sporting need to win their final match and hope both Rayo and Zaragoza lose theirs in order to beat the drop courtesy of their better record in matches between the three sides this season.

Jorge Molina was on target for Betis, whose slim chances of achieving European qualification were ended with this defeat.

Sporting's Adrian Colunga fired in an early warning for the hosts as he stung the palms of Casto inside three minutes.

The opening goal was not much longer in coming, 13 minutes gone when Antonio Amaya handled in the area and Sangoy looked assured as he planted the resulting penalty beyond the Betis goalkeeper.

Sangoy might have added a second on 39 minutes when he took aim with a overhead kick from inside the area but his effort went wide of the target.

Betis' leveller arrived right on the stroke of the interval.

Alejandro Pozuelo created the opening with a pass from the right side of the area, and when Molina received the ball he had a simple task to take aim and bury his shot beyond Juan Pablo.

Betis went in search of another at the start of the second period as Salva Sevilla let fly from the edge of the area but Juan Pablo was right behind the shot and held on.

Sangoy doubled his tally and sealed an important win for the hosts on 55 minutes, receiving the ball from Oscar Trejo and sending a powerful drive high into the roof of Casto's goal.

Juan Pablo saved twice from Molina in the minutes that followed as Betis briefly rallied, but the visitors lacked invention going forward and Sporting held on for a priceless win at the final whistle.

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