Soccer-Getafe close in on Champions League place after seeing off Girona


Reuters | Updated: 05-05-2019 18:05 IST | Created: 05-05-2019 18:05 IST
Soccer-Getafe close in on Champions League place after seeing off Girona

Getafe edged closer towards qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in their history with a 2-0 La Liga win at home to struggling Girona on Sunday thanks to goals from strikers Jorge Molina and Angel Rodriguez in either half. The victory allowed the unfashionable Madrid club to tighten their grip on the coveted fourth spot in the table by moving on to 58 points after 36 games, three points clear of nearest challengers Sevilla, who lost to Leganes on Friday.

They are six points ahead of sixth-placed Valencia, who visit Huesca later on Sunday. Getafe broke the deadlock in the 16th minute after a misplaced pass from Girona defender Bernardo invited a counterattack from the home side and 37-year-old Molina fired into the bottom corner to score his 14th goal of the season.

Getafe coach Jose Bordalas had to watch the game from the stands as he was serving a touchline ban for insulting the referee in his side's 2-1 defeat at Real Sociedad which had threatened to derail their hopes of making the top four. Girona's Borja Garcia was sent off in the second half for dissent and Getafe made the most of their numerical advantage when substitute Angel Rodriguez doubled their lead in the 77th minute, holding off two defenders before arrowing his finish into the net. (Reporting by Richard Martin Editing by Toby Davis)

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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