Racing Santander 4 -
Numancia 2
Racing: Ceballos;
Tais, Txema, Mellberg, Sietes; Manjarín, Julio Alvarez (Espina 63'),
Jaime, Amavisca; Rushfeldt (Estévez 57'), Preciado (Morán 80').
4-4-2. Numancia: Nuñez; Manel, Muñiz, Gustavo, Octavio
(David Pirri 37'); Iñaki, Marini, Nagore (José Manuel 53'),
Pacheta; Ojeda (Rosu 77'), Rubén Navarro. 4-4-2.
Team changes: Racing: Tais,
Txema, Julio Alvarez for Pineda, Nafti, Espina / Numancia: None.
Goals: 0-1. 13. Ojeda.
Ball went in off his shoulder after cross from Iñaki on right side.
1-1. 23. Preciado. Strong header after high ball through from Tais.
2-1. 38. Preciado. Glancing header from Julio Alvarez cross from right
wing. 3-1. 60. Amavisca (penalty). After Nuñez ruled to have brought
down Estévez. 3-2. 77. José Manuel. Shot from outside area
that deflected off Espina. 4-2. 93. Amavisca (penalty). Another dubious
foul on Estévez, this time by Manel.
Racing Santander recorded
their first win of the season and their first at their own Sardinero stadium
for eight months following seven draws and two defeats in their last nine games
at home. Their start to this season has been a nightmare, with games against
Real Madrid, Barcelona and Deportivo amongst their first five matches, and as a
result they began this one at the bottom of the table with only two points to
their name. Manager Andoni Goikoetxea opted for a more experienced side,
leaving out Pineda and Nafti to make room for Tais and Txema, although he did
make one concession to youth, bringing back Real Madrid's on-loan midfielder
Julio Alvarez for Espina. Numancia's manager Paco Herrera kept the same team
that drew against Bilbao last week.
Although the home side
players promised to look for goal right from the start, it was the visitors who
dominated at the beginning, with Ojeda and Pacheta creating chances early on.
In the 12th minute they took a deserved lead, although the goal when it came
was somewhat fortunate, Ojeda not expecting the ball to get past Mellberg and
eventually bundling it into the net off his shoulder. Goiko urged his players
on, and Preciado finally made a name for himself after a long period in the
dark with two well taken headed goals before half time. Rushfeldt had a chance
to extend the lead, but Nuñez dived full stretch to keep out his header.
Herrera brought on Pirri
before the break and added José Manuel shortly afterwards to tighten up
midfield, but it was Goiko's substitution of Estévez for Rushfeldt which
had more effect. The slippery Argentinian fell as if poleaxed in the penalty
area within minutes of coming on, and referee Medina Cantelejo ruled that
Nuñez had brought him down. It was a dubious decision, but Amavisca
stepped up to take the penalty kick and restore the two goal margin. Once again
Numancia got back in the game with a shot from José Manuel which took a
deflection of substitute Espina's heel, and after Ceballos saved from
Rubén Navarro, Gustavo missed a sitter in front of goal which would have
levelled the scores.
But the game wasn't finished
yet, and Estévez once again fell in the area after a tackle from Manel.
Medina Cantalejo had no doubts and pointed straight to the penalty spot,
sending off the full back after giving him a second yellow card. To the delight
of his fans, Amavisca sent the ball in to the other side of the goal for
Racing's highest haul since their 2-5 win a year ago against Real Sociedad.
Goiko breathed a sigh of relief, the pressure off him momentarily at least as
his side climbed out of the relegation zone. Numancia are a couple of points
ahead of them in thirteenth place, but with only three points separating eighth
from eighteenth at this early stage, a couple of bad results and they will be
back down again. |