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January 29, 2012 10:30 PM IST
Campos de Sport de El Sardinero — Santander
Referee: Alfonso Alvarez Izquierdo
Attendance: 15000
Valencia
Valencia
Racing
Valencia
Racing 2-2 Valencia: Late Bernardo header seizes point after Aduriz double had put Unai Emery's men in winning position
The centre-back's header in the 88th minute halted the away side's comeback and sent players' emotions running, resulting in two red cards being shown in the dying moments
By: Victor Ferreira
After Adrian Gonzalez opened scoring early on, Aritz Aduriz came of the bench to score a brace and earn his side the advantage. When Valencia was preparing to celebrate, Bernardo equalised and earned the draw for the Cantabrians.
Unai Emery's men were not able to quickly settle into the game and impose their fluid, attacking football as a Santander goal in the second minute stopped them from doing so.
From a corner kick, a clearance found Pedro Munitis at the edge of the 18-yard box. The veteran picked out Adrian, who coolly slid the ball into the back of Diego Alves' net.
Seemingly rattled by the home side's dream start to the match, Los Che were not able to get back into the game and threaten until the last 10 minutes of the first half.
The Valencia faithful would see their hopes of turning the match around dashed when Ever Banega was substituted in the 38th minute. Mehmet Topal replaced the influential midfielder who was clearly suffering from a knock he picked up minutes earlier.
The away side ended the half with nearly 70 per cent of possession but could not convert their dominance into goals.
In the 66th minute this changed as Unai Emery's men found a glimmer of hope through a substitution. From another corner kick, Roberto Soldado flicked on the ball and found Aduriz who tapped it past Tono to equalise moments after being introduced into the game.
The inspired substitute continued to make a difference in the game. After Tono denied a Ricardo Costa screamer from approximately 30 yards, Aduriz tapped in the rebound to earn a double on the night and give his side the advantage.
Juanjo Gonzalez's men would not give up, and in the 88th minute they found their equaliser. Jairo Samperio sent a cross into the box which found Bernardo who headed powerfully into the goal to tie the game up late on.
Emotions began to run high as both Costa and Munitis were sent off in the 90th minute after the two got into a heated verbal and physical argument. Neither side could take further advantage and the game ended in a draw.
With the tie, Valencia remain in third, four points ahead of Levante. With the point, Santander move up to 14th place and continue to struggle in mid-table.
Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match
Fans' Flop of the Match
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Lionel Messi
Striker Barcelona |
50 | 10 |
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Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker Real Madrid |
46 | 12 |
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Radamel Falcao
Striker Atlético de Madrid |
24 | 5 |
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Gonzalo Higuaín
Striker Real Madrid |
22 | 0 |
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Karim Benzema
Striker Real Madrid |
21 | 0 |
