SPAIN:Vela's goal snatches win for Sociedad

Carlos Vela skillfully chested
down a long pass before
firing in Real Sociedad's
injury-time winner to snatch
a dramatic 2-1 win at home
over Espanyol in the Spanish league on
Saturday.
Vela's 13th goal in league play allowed
Sociedad to rise into provisional sixth place,
and moved the Basque club closer to
clinching a Europa League berth.
"This victory ... almost books our place in
Europe" Sociedad coach Jagoba Arrasate
said. "Vela wasn't having his best day, but
that doesn't bother him and he is able to
score a goal like he did. He is a player that
makes the difference."
Sociedad hemmed Espanyol into their area
from the start, pushing the action into their
final third of the pitch.
But Espanyol striker Jhon Cordoba's solo
effort put the visitors ahead at Anoeta
Stadium in the 26th minute, when he quickly
spun around Mikel Gonzalez before slotting
the ball past goalie Claudio Bravo.
Sergio Canales leveled in the 32nd when his
cross took a deflection off the back of
Espanyol's Manuel Lanzarote, catching
goalie Kiko Casilla wrong-footed.