Three golden points in Getafe
Godín and Diego Costa sentenced Getafe with two goals, at the end of the first and second half respectively. The striker could even have scored another one, but Codina stopped his penalty. Three golden points in the race for the title.
Getafe: Codina; Arroyo, Alexis, Rafa, Roberto Lago (Sammir, 79’); Juan Rodríguez, Mosquera (Lacen, 67’); Pedro León, Lafita, Diego Castro (Colunga, 57’); and Ciprian.
Atlético de Madrid: Courtois; Juanfran, Miranda, Godín, Filipe Luis; Raúl García (Diego Ribas, 71’), Gabi, Mario Suárez, Koke; Diego Costa (Cristian Rodríguez, 85’) and Villa (Adrián, 61’).
Referee: Fernández Borbalán (Andalusian Committee). Booked the locals Mosquera (22’), Alexis (25’), Lafita (51’); and the visiting Godín (15’), Villa (45’), Diego Costa (75’).
GOALS:
0-1. 40’. Godín wins a header from a blue defender to beat Codina after a measured centre from Gabi.
0-2. 84’. Diego Costa pushed an assist from Adrián into the net.
Atlético de Madrid had before them one of the six finals left till the end of the League. After Barcelona’s setback in Granada and with Real Madrid’s win, a triumph in the Coliseum would put the Atléticos three points ahead of their lifelong rival and four points over Martino’s team. It was an opportunity they couldn’t let pass. And that’s hoy Simeone’s team took the field, with the same intensity as in the rest of the matches and owning the ball. That’s how the first chance came after four minutes, with a shot from Villa that strolled along the goal line. Afterwards, a fierce kick from Gabi that went in but was annulled on presumed offside.
Getafe was not comfortable, although they thickened the match to dull Atléticos’ lucidity from other games. Godín warned in minute 27 with a header from a foul served by Koke that was miraculously saved by Codina. Atlético came closer and Diego Costa almost connected a move inside the box. But the approaches were increasing and Villa shot a centre from Juanfran that Alexis deflected to the corner. It was the prelude of the match’s first goal, when Gabi sent a ball into the box and Godín, with a majestic jump from the defence bastion, placed the ball inside Codina’s goal without giving him a chance to stop it.
Getafe came out in the second half with a greater need to score, given the negative result. And they had two chances to score at the beginning, but Courtois was there to contain, a header of a set piece by Juan Rodríguez first, and a shot from Colunga afterwards. That’s where the danger from Getafe ended, because a decisive play in the match’s development was about to come. Lafita’s penalty to Miranda, sending the blue player off when more than half of the second half was left. Diego Costa could not make the 0-2 because Codina guessed his shot, but Getafe had to play one player short for the rest of the match.
And so, the minutes went by. Only a goal from ours could come. It could be Diego Ribas as soon as he entered the pitch, but the final blow was delivered by Diego Costa in minute 84, putting the cap on a play started by Diego Ribas and followed by Adrián with a shot to the Spanish-Brazilian, who scored the 0-2. It was a shame that the 0-2 author injured himself when colliding with the post, which made him leave the field on a stretcher. Important victory for a team that once again showed their strength in defence, supportive of a needing teammate, and lethal in the attack.
