La Liga

February 22, 2010

Full-time

Valencia

2 - 1

Getafe

La Liga

20:00 GMT, February 22, 2010

Mestalla

Referee: Jose Luis Paradas Romero

Villa on the double for Valencia

Scoring Summary

Valencia Getafe
David Villa (39')Manu (75')
David Villa (52') 

David Villa struck both goals as 10-man Valencia held on to beat Getafe 2-1 at the Mestalla. Spain international Villa netted twice in a 12-minute spell either side of half-time to put third-placed Valencia 2-0 up and seemingly in total control.

However, the 61st-minute dismissal of Valencia defender Alexis gave Getafe a lifeline and the visitors then pulled a goal back through Manu del Moral to leave their hosts facing a nervy final 14 minutes.

Unai Emery's side survived though, and the win sees them extend their lead over fourth-placed Sevilla back to four points.

Neither team was in the best of form heading into the game, with Valencia having won just one of their previous four league outings and Getafe recording only one victory in six. Valencia were also facing a defensive crisis that saw them without Bruno Saltor, David Navarro and Jeremy Mathieu.

Crucially though, the home side had no such problems at the other end of the pitch and star striker Villa and recent signing Alejandro Dominguez were soon causing Getafe problems.

The duo first combined in the 10th minute when Villa broke away down the right before feeding Dominguez in the middle. The Argentinian had just Jordi Codina to beat but the Getafe goalkeeper, whose error gifted Almeria a last-minute equaliser in last weekend's 2-2 draw, did well to save.

Dominguez threatened again in the 25th minute when he only narrowly failed to get on the end of Alexis' through-ball. Any sort of touch would have resulted in the opening goal of the game, but Valencia had to settle for a corner off Codina instead.

Getafe, meanwhile, were producing little to trouble Cesar Sanchez, although Manu should have done better in the 38th minute when, after cutting inside Carlos Marchena on the edge of the box, he sent a curling shot well over.

That was a poor effort, and Manu would have been left feeling even worse 60 seconds later as Valencia took the lead following a simple move that will have infuriated Getafe coach Michel. Cesar's kick was headed on by Alexis near the halfway line and that put Dominguez clear through the left channel. He then outpaced Cata Diaz before his low cross was sidefooted home by Villa.

That was Villa's 16th league goal of the season, moving him level with Barcelona's Lionel Messi at the top of the scoring charts, and the Spain ace was celebrating number 17 six minutes after the break.

Valencia had already threatened through a Marchena effort that was well saved by Codina, but there was no denying Villa soon after.

A mistake by Getafe midfielder Dani Parejo gifted the ball to David Silva and he put Villa away on the left. There was still plenty for Villa to do but he produced a superb chip over the advancing Codina that left the Getafe custodian stranded.

At that stage Valencia were cruising, but they suffered a setback 10 minutes later when Alexis was shown a second yellow card for an innocuous-looking challenge on Pedro Leon.

Getafe gave themselves a fighting chance of getting something out of the game when Manu slotted home following persistent work by Juan Albin to make it 2-1.

However, Michel's side could not make the most of their numerical advantage, and it was actually Valencia who created the better openings late on as Getafe pushed more men forward.