Deportivo La Coruna 3 : 2 Zaragoza - Depor boost survival hopes

Deportivo La Coruna's hopes of avoiding relegation are alive and well after they beat fellow strugglers Real Zaragoza 3-2 in a thriller at Riazor.

Bruno Gama gave the Galicians the lead early in the first half but Helder Postiga levelled from the penalty spot before Paco Montanes put Manolo Jimenez's side ahead.

Carlos Marchena pulled his team level before half-time and Depor took the lead again 10 minutes into the second half thanks to an own goal by Abraham Minero, whose night was made even worse when he was sent off with nine minutes remaining.

Depor have now won three consecutive games and moved off the bottom of the Primera Division table for the first time since December 2.

Zaragoza, who have not been in the relegation zone once all season, could find themselves in it by Sunday lunchtime.

The hosts were the better team on the night, enjoying superior possession and creating a greater number of chances than their opponents.

They took the lead after 11 minutes through a great team goal. Riki collected the ball on the left wing and raced towards the area, playing in Juan Dominguez who in turn found Juan Carlos Valeron.

He played the ball to Bruno Gama, who skinned a defender before rifling a low shot past Roberto at the near post.

Just minutes later Zaragoza were awarded a penalty when Aythami Artiles blocked a cross with his hand. Postiga converted the spot-kick to score his 11th goal of the season.

Depor desperately sought to regain their lead immediately and would have done so were it not for three fine saves from Roberto.

First he produced a double save to keep out a shot by Pizzi and the follow up by Riki, and then he stopped a close-range header from Alberto Aguilar.

However, Zaragoza then took the lead against the run of play.

Montanes robbed Manuel Pablo on the halfway line to begin the attack and laid the ball off to Rodri, who gave it to Jose Maria Movilla. The veteran then released Montanes with a perfectly weighted pass and the midfielder raced towards goal and produced a brilliant chipped finish to beat Dani Aranzubia.

The hosts did not let their heads drop and were level five minutes later, with Marchena volleying in from close range.

Depor maintained their superiority in the second half. Aythami hit the post with the goal gaping but the pressure soon paid off, albeit from an unlikely source.

Riki sent in a corner which went beyond the reach of Roberto and it ricocheted off the chest of Abraham and into the net.

Zaragoza struggled to find an equaliser and their task was made even harder when Abraham was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Deportivo boss Fernando Vazquez was then sent from his dugout to the stands for arguing with the referee, but any tension on the part of the coach soon turned to relief when the final whistle sounded.