Post by Bismarck on Feb 4, 2008 14:35:55 GMT
VALLADOLID, February 3 (Primera Liga) - Valencia ended their three-match losing streak in the Primera Liga with a hard-fought win at Real Valladolid on Sunday.
Juan Manuel Mata and David Villa both struck in the second half to ease the pressure on coach Ronald Koeman and move the team back into top half of the table after 22 rounds of the championship.
Valladolid started stronger and created the first real opportunity of the game on 12 minutes, when Rafa Lopez's glancing header sailed just wide of the target.
Two minutes later, the home side could have taken the lead.
Recent Valencia signing Ever Banega lost possession on the edge of his own area and Victor seized on the loose ball before unleashing a stinging right-foot effort, which Valencia goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand did well to push out at full stretch.
Valladolid threatened again on 27 minutes when Joseba Llorente forced Hildebrand into action with a low rasping drive from just outside the box, but the German keeper again responded with a neat save.
At the other end, Villa then advanced into the area and sought to lay the ball off for Mata, but Valladolid cleared their lines.
It was the first time Valencia had come anywhere near their rivals' goal in the match and opportunities were limited in the rest of the half.
But as the game wore on, the visitors began to see more of the ball and kept the locals comfortably at bay in the remainder of the first period.
After the break, the home side started strongly again and tested Hildebrand almost immediately.
This time, Victor's shot was pushed over by the former Stuttgart keeper after a neat lay-off from Llorente.
Three minutes later, Villa ran on to an exquisite long pass by Joaquin, but his cross had too much power for the advancing Mata.
Valencia looked the better side now and duly went ahead on 59 minutes, when Mata ran on to Carlos Marchena's lovely pass from deep, controlled the ball and fired a powerful low shot past the helpless Alberto Lopez.
Valladolid searched in vain for a way back into the match, but were unable to reproduce the form they had shown earlier on in the game.
Valencia looked comfortable and sealed the points after 71 minutes when Villa fired a second from close range.
Following that goal, Valladolid played with more urgency and verve, but soon looked resigned to a second straight defeat which sees them slip back down to 13th place and, consequently, right back into the relegation battle.
For Valencia, meanwhile, it was only a third league win since Koeman's arrival at the club in early November.
The win sees them move up to 30 points, where they sit just
Juan Manuel Mata and David Villa both struck in the second half to ease the pressure on coach Ronald Koeman and move the team back into top half of the table after 22 rounds of the championship.
Valladolid started stronger and created the first real opportunity of the game on 12 minutes, when Rafa Lopez's glancing header sailed just wide of the target.
Two minutes later, the home side could have taken the lead.
Recent Valencia signing Ever Banega lost possession on the edge of his own area and Victor seized on the loose ball before unleashing a stinging right-foot effort, which Valencia goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand did well to push out at full stretch.
Valladolid threatened again on 27 minutes when Joseba Llorente forced Hildebrand into action with a low rasping drive from just outside the box, but the German keeper again responded with a neat save.
At the other end, Villa then advanced into the area and sought to lay the ball off for Mata, but Valladolid cleared their lines.
It was the first time Valencia had come anywhere near their rivals' goal in the match and opportunities were limited in the rest of the half.
But as the game wore on, the visitors began to see more of the ball and kept the locals comfortably at bay in the remainder of the first period.
After the break, the home side started strongly again and tested Hildebrand almost immediately.
This time, Victor's shot was pushed over by the former Stuttgart keeper after a neat lay-off from Llorente.
Three minutes later, Villa ran on to an exquisite long pass by Joaquin, but his cross had too much power for the advancing Mata.
Valencia looked the better side now and duly went ahead on 59 minutes, when Mata ran on to Carlos Marchena's lovely pass from deep, controlled the ball and fired a powerful low shot past the helpless Alberto Lopez.
Valladolid searched in vain for a way back into the match, but were unable to reproduce the form they had shown earlier on in the game.
Valencia looked comfortable and sealed the points after 71 minutes when Villa fired a second from close range.
Following that goal, Valladolid played with more urgency and verve, but soon looked resigned to a second straight defeat which sees them slip back down to 13th place and, consequently, right back into the relegation battle.
For Valencia, meanwhile, it was only a third league win since Koeman's arrival at the club in early November.
The win sees them move up to 30 points, where they sit just