Valladolid 2-1 Mallorca: Substitute Diego Costa Gives Hosts The Edge

The Brazilian striker nets the winner for the home side...

Oct 29, 2009 9:55:05 PM

More On :  Mallorca, Valladolid, Valladolid vs Mallorca
Diego Costa - Atletico de Madrid

A Diego Costa goal 12 minutes from time secured a slender win to give Valladolid the edge over Mallorca going into the second leg of their fourth round Copa del Rey tie after a tame first leg at the Nuevo Zorrilla stadium.
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The hosts took the lead after just three minutes when the Mallorca defence tried to step up from a Nauzet Aleman free-kick down the right, leaving three Valladolid players alone on the penalty spot and it was Cesar Arzo who controlled the ball before blasting it past the goalkeeper from no more than ten yards away to give the hosts the perfect start.

As the half wore on both sides looked to attack but the final ball lacked the necessary quality to create any telling chances.

Then midway through the half the visitors were gifted an opportunity to draw level when the referee awarded them a penalty. Fabricio emerged from goal to smother the ball at Sidi Keita's feet with Arzo closing in but somehow the ref deemed there to be a foul, perhaps from the defender as the 'keeper certainly did little wrong.

Josep Lluis Marti stepped up to take the resulting spot kick, smashing it high to the 'keeper's left to draw level.

That was how it remained for most of the game as both sides probed and looked for an opening in what was an end to end game but still the quality final ball was missing. Alberto Bueno went closest for the hosts, firing over the bar from 25 yards after some clever footwork and Valero had a decent effort from distance for Mallorca but neither 'keeper was made to work.

Both Gregorio Manzano and Jose Luis Mendilibar made changes in an effort to seal a win and it was Mendilibar's substitution which was to prove inspired.

Brazilian striker Diego Costa, who replaced Manucho, gave the home side the lead just minutes after coming into the game. Antonio Barragan found Aleman in space down the right and his low ball across the area fell to the feet of Costa who controlled the ball 12 yards out with his left foot before angling a low right-footed effort into the bottom left hand corner to give his side the lead.

Mallorca tried to respond and Valero flashed a shot wide of Fabricio's goal from around 25 yards before the 'keeper got himself into trouble trying to play his way out of danger against Keita, but luckily for him survived and managed to clear the threat as Valladolid held on to win.

So all eyes on will be on the return fixture at the Ono Stadi in a fortnight. Manzano's men have already won the league fixture between the two teams by a 3-0 scoreline so Mendilibar will know his side still have it all to do to make it into the fifth round.

Paul Madden, Goal.com
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