Higuaín caps late Madrid fightback
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Article summary
A gripping final four minutes saw Real Madrid CF concede a spot-kick, have Pepe sent off, but still come from 2-1 down to claim all three points against Getafe CF to keep the pressure on rivals FC Barcelona at the Liga summit.
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Real Madrid CF struck twice in the final four minutes to defeat Getafe CF 3-2 at the Santiago Bernabéu and reduce FC Barcelona's Liga lead to three points.
Former players
The visitors had held the whip hand for much of the match, taking the lead after ten minutes when two former Madrid players combined, Esteban Granero cutting inside Fabio Cannavaro and delivering a cross which Roberto Soldado headed past Iker Casillas. The hosts restored parity right at the end of the first half when Gonzalo Higuaín outmuscled Daniel Díaz and bundled the ball in, but the points looked like heading to Getafe when, with six minutes remaining, substitute Albín restored their lead with a low effort from the edge of the penalty area.
Higuaín winner
Two minutes later Guti levelled with a sumptuous curling free-kick; it was only the start of the drama. Within 60 seconds Pepe had been dismissed after bringing down Francisco Casquero in the area, but the midfielder's ensuing penalty was easily saved by Casillas and, in injury time, Higuaín fired in his 18th league goal of the season from the edge of the box. Barcelona will restore their six-point lead if they overcome third-placed Sevilla FC at the Camp Nou on Wednesday. Elsewhere, Fernando Llorente's 48th-minute goal proved decisive as Athletic Club Bilbao won 2-1 at bottom side CD Numancia.