Madrid, SPAIN, May 25 (AFP) - Two goals from Serbian striker Savo Milosevic helped Espanyol to virtually ensure their first division survival as the Barcelona-based side beat relegation-threatened Alaves 3-1 on Sunday.
Espanyol are now unbeaten in 12 games which is in
stark contrast to the first half of the season when they
languished near the foot of the table.
Milosevic fired home his first goal from the edge of the
area four minutes before half time and scored from the
spot barely a minute into the second half, after Alaves'
Delfi Geli had brought down Roger Garcia.
Two goals in the last 12 minutes gave Real
Sociedad a 2-0 win at Malaga and
kept the Basques on top of the
Spanish first division and on course for
their first title in 21 years.
After keeping the league leaders in
check for the majority of the match, Malaga were
reduced to 10 men after Clever Romero picked up a
second yellow card for a needless trip on Sociedad's
Javier De Pedro after 63 minutes.
Sociedad slowly took advantage of the extra man,
turning the screw until they got their breakthrough 12
minutes from time when Igor Gabilondo headed his first
goal of the season.
It was a remarkable turn of fortunes for the midfielder
who had only been on the pitch three minutes, after
being relegated to the bench for his inadequate
performance as an emergency left back seven days
ago.
Serbian striker Darko Kovacevic then put the game beyond the home
side's reach three minutes from time, chipping in his
19th goal of the season from just inside the area after
connecting with a precision long-range pass from
Socieadad's Norwegian defender Bjorn Kvarme.
Real Sociedad now have 72 points from 35 games, with
three games still to go.
They are one point in front of Real Madrid, who won 2-1
at Valencia on Saturday thanks to two goals from
Ronaldo.
Eindhoven, NETHERLANDS, May 25 - PSV Eindhoven remained just one point away from clinching their 17th Dutch
championship after beating Utrecht 2-0 on Sunday, but the title race will be decided only
on the final day of the season as second-placed Ajax Amsterdam won 2-1 at Twente
Enschede.
PSV, who have a three point lead at the top of the table, 83 to Ajax's 80, and an
advantage of six in goal difference, had the best possible start by going ahead after only
three minutes thanks to a thunderous shot by Arnold Bruggink.
On the half hour mark, PSV
were awarded a penalty when
Mark van Bommel was brought
down in the box.
And Serbian striker Mateja Kezman made no
mistake from the spot to make it
2-0 and sealed the win for the
League leaders.
