Granada CF 0 : 1 Levante - Garcia goal sees off Granada

Posted Thursday, September 25, 2014 by PA

A fine solo goal by Ruben Garcia settled a tight game at Granada 1-0 and allowed Levante to pick up their first win of the season to move out of the relegation zone.

The young midfielder struck right at the beginning of the second half to give the visitors the lead at the Nuevo Los Carmenes and Los Granotes held on to get one over their former boss Joaquin Caparros, who suffered his first defeat in charge of Granada.

The hosts edged Levante in the first half but had no goals to show for it.

Jhon Cordoba sent a bicycle kick into the stands early on and then missed the target again midway through the first half, just moments after seeing a chance he did manage to convert chalked off for offside.

Levante's brightest player in the first period was Jose Luis Morales, who nearly scored a spectacular overhead kick and also could have got an assist to his name had David Barral or Garcia got on the end of his dangerous cross from the left wing.

However, it was a moment of brilliance from Garcia that broke the deadlock.

The 21-year-old demonstrated why he was once tipped as the next breakthrough player in Spanish football by weaving his way past three Granada defenders on the edge of the area before driving the ball into the bottom corner.

It was Levante's first goal in over 465 minutes of football under Jose Luis Mendilibar, who succeeded Caparros over the summer.

The goal opened a tight game up, with Barral and Cordoba both missing chances to get on the scoresheet, and then Garcia came within inches to a second goal, striking the cross bar from a free-kick.

Levante were willing to play rough to see out the game and picked up four yellow cards in the final half hour to add to two bookings received in the first half.

They still endured a nervy finish and had to defend a corner in injury time, but celebrated wildly once the final whistle sounded.