Rayo Vallecano 0 - 1 Cordoba C.F. : Ba own goal boosts Cordoba

Posted Tuesday, January 13, 2015 by PA

Cordoba climbed out of the Primera Division relegation zone after Abdoulaye Ba's own goal secured a 1-0 victory at Rayo Vallecano.

The promoted club failed to win any of their first 13 games in La Liga but Monday night's triumph at Vallecas was a third in five outings and boosts Cordoba above Deportivo La Coruna, Almeria and Levante.

Rayo, meanwhile, remain in 11th place having missed the opportunity to move into the top half.

One-time Manchester United misfit Bebe joined Cordoba on loan from Benfica last week and made an interesting start to his debut, earning a yellow card inside only seven minutes.

He would deliver the first shot on goal, though, testing Tono's reflexes with a free-kick from distance.

In the 25th minute Rayo bared their teeth through Lica, whose header went wide, and Gael Kakuta. The on-loan Chelsea winger steered a left-footed free-kick just over the Cordoba bar.

Bebe got Tono working again with two efforts after the half-hour mark - the goalkeeper parried the first but had Ba to thank for blocking a searing drive from distance.

He would not be so grateful to the Senegalese defender in the 39th minute, however.

When Florin Andone drifted a cross into the Rayo box, Ba's poor clearance sent the ball spinning past Tono.

The second half took a while to get going and it was not until the 66th minute that Rayo carved out a pair of opportunities.

Quini curled the ball over the bar before Alex Moreno warmed Juan Carlos' palms with a header from Roberto Trashorras' corner.

Alberto Bueno then gave Juan Carlos more food for thought with a drilled attempt from distance.

Rayo soon introduced their own former Manchester United striker Manucho and the Angolan went close with a snapshot from the left side of the box.

Time was fast ticking away for Rayo when the lively Bueno tried to force home an equaliser with his head, and Juan Carlos guaranteed all three points for his side by denying Jozabed at the death.