Gerard Moreno's artful second-half goal enlivened an otherwise unexciting match between RCD Espanyol and visiting Getafe, allowing the hosts to break out of a slump and vault over two other football clubs into 13th place in La Liga.
For Getafe, meanwhile, Monday's outcome marked the end of a four-match undefeated run, reports Efe.
Just seven minutes in, Aaron Martin forced a stop from Getafe goalkeeper Vicente Guaita, who was saved by the cross-bar on a header by Mario Hermoso and by the officials after Moreno scored and the goal was disallowed on an offside call.
The visiting side nearly gave up an own goal following a dangerous cross by Espanyol's Pablo Piatti.
Getafe's best chance of the match came in the 23rd minute, when David Lopez's failed back pass ended up on the foot of Angel, who passed to Jorge Molina to set up what looked like a sure goal, but Lopez and Victor Sanchez combined to make the stop.
The hosts stepped up the pace in the second half and the effort paid off in the 55th minute as Moreno redirected Piatti's free kick past Guaita to put Espanyol up 1-0.
Espanyol pushed for an insurance goal and Guaita had to make a stop against Moreno in the 74th minute, while the visitors could manage no more than a handful of shots from distance.
--IANS
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