Racing Santander 1-2 Getafe: Comeback victory gives Getafe breathing space

1-0 Stuani 13'
1-1 Gavilán 25'
1-2 Miku 83'

Despite early stumbles, Getafe fight back to secure a deserved victory...
... Mistakes from both sides prevented further goals ...

Getafe showed character to fight back for victory from a goal down at Racing Santander, but coach Luis García will be all too aware that on another day the visitors' profligacy may have been punished.

Nonetheless the Azulones did recover from a poor start to secure a vital three points, giving them respite from a tight relegation race and also ensuring that Geta have taken an impressive 11 points from the last 15.

Racing took a deserved lead in the 13th minute when Rafa inexplicably played a fast pass across his own goalmouth, where former Geta man Adrián González was waiting to play it to Christian Stuani for an easy finish. Rafa was withdrawn through injury shortly afterwards in what will surely rank as the stopper's worst day of his career.

Five minutes later Getafe should have levelled. Abdel Barrada sprung a world-class through ball to Dani Güiza, but when faced one-on-one with Toño Rodríguez he ran the ball straight into the 'keeper's arms.

The visitors were back on level terms midway through the half. Barrada launched a fine cross from the right, and with the Racing defence bunched in the middle of the six-yard box, the ball fell to Jaime Gavilán unmarked at the far post to gently lift home his first goal of the season.

On the half hour mark Getafe had another great chance through Güiza: the veteran forward got a fine touch on it this time but Toño - having an excellent game - was equal to the task. Exemplifying an equal half, Stuani then missed a sitter at the other end.

Six minutes into the second half some great close interplay in the box presented Gavilán and then Güiza with excellent chances from close range, but Toño once again proved the saviour for an uncoordinated Racing defence.

Although Getafe were having the best of the play, Cata Díaz sprung them from jail on the hour mark when Álvaro seemed set to steer goalwards unmarked after a corner.

Still, the visitors were clearly the better side in the second half, a combination of great work from Toño and a lack of composure in the box from Getafe keeping the score at 1-1.

Dani Güiza was the biggest culprit in terms of chances missed, and Geta almost paid the price twelve minutes from time when Lautaro Acosta was put through on goal, only for Moyà to pull off a vital save.

Finally the pressure paid off eight minutes from time as Getafe, taking advantage of Racing's wide line, hit on the break. Diego Castro clipped the ball into the middle, Marc Torrejón made a hash of his interception, and all that was left was for Miku to control and then shoot from twelve yards to give his side the lead.

Getafe switched off after taking the lead and nearly paid for it several times in the closing minutes, but ultimately held on for a merited win.

Next for the Madrid outfit is a trip to Valencia to meet Levante, who despite a recent dip in form remain in the top four.

Racing: Toño; Álvaro, Torrejón, Bernardo, Cisma; Papa Diop, Colsa (Tziolis 46); Arana (Kennedy 65), Adrián, Acosta; Stuani (Jairo 52). Getafe: Moyà; Valera, Cata Díaz, Rafa (Lopo 16), Barrada (Diego Castro 79), Míchel, Casquero, Gavilán (Pedro León 61'); Dani Güiza, Miku.

Getafe 0-1 Racing Santander: Dull Clash Settled By Late Penalty

0-1 Pinillos (pen.) 88'

Careless play and questionable refereeing makes for dull encounter...
... Late penalty decision and red card correct nonetheless...

For the second week in a row Getafe conceded a late penalty as the Azulones fell 1-0 to rivals Racing Santander at home.

An unusually large crowd assembled at the Coliseum in the hopes of seeing a routine win over the struggling Cantabrians, but in fact a cagey first period and a disappointing second resulted in a home defeat.

The first half was mainly dominated by long balls from both sides, with few chances of note for either team.

Stats Getafe - Racing 54% Possession 46% 1 Shots on target 5 7 Corners 4 106 Balls Lost 108 78 Balls Recovered 85 1 Yellow Cards 2 1 Red Cards 0 11 Fouls Committed 12

Indeed, Getafe didn't meaningfully test Toño once during the opening forty-five, and not until five minutes before the break did Racing really threaten as Ariel Nahuelpan shot over after beating Cata Díaz.

Referee Estrada Fernández missed what appeared to be a penalty for Getafe five minutes after the break as Pablo Pinillos handled a Jaime Gavilán cross.

After a raft of substitutions for both sides, Jordi Codina was called into action to deny Pedro Munitis a rare goal, and Racing began to look dangerous.

Seventeen minutes from time substitute Giovani Dos Santos thought he'd given the Cantabrians the lead, only to be disappointed by the referee's whistle. This was an offside decision that spared Getafe's blushes, for replays seemed to indicate that the goal was legal.

Miku saved a Miku effort eight minutes from time before referee Fernández redeemed himself by getting a decision correct. Iván Marcano denied the excellent Dos Santos a clear opportunity in the box, and although the ex-Barcelona man did make the most of it, it was a reckless challenge from the Villarreal loanee.

Pablo Pinillos stepped up and buried the penalty, and the game was Racing's. Indeed, were it not for a wonder save from Codina a minute later Dos Santos may have had the goal he was denied earlier with an unmarked far post header.

Getafe could potentially now finish the weekend in the bottom half, depending on results involving Sevilla, Real Sociedad and Mallorca. Racing pull to within three points of the Azulones on 28.

Getafe: Codina; Víctor Sánchez, Cata Díaz, Marcano, Mané; Pedro Ríos (Albín 79'), Boateng, Casquero (Parejo 56'), Gavilán; Miku, Colunga (Adrián Sardinero 61'.) Red Card: Marcano 88' (professional foul) Racing: Toño; Pinillos, Henrique, Torrejón, Cisma; Lacen, Colsa; Kennedy (Dos Santos 66'), Munitis, Adrián (Arana 72'); Nahuelpan (Rosenberg 59').