Scepovic claws Getafe out of the drop zone

Nervy encounter

The nerves were plain to see right from the first whistle in this basement battle between two sides who began the day in the bottom three. The first half saw the two teams repeatedly giving the ball away and making defensive errors, which led to plenty of action in both boxes in the opening stages.

Chances aplenty for Getafe

Gradually Getafe CF began to impose themselves on the game, as they made inroads on Ivan Cuellar's goal. Juan Eduardo Esnaider's men came a whisker away from taking the lead when Pablo Sarabia's fine driven effort from the edge of the area cannoned back off the upright. From that moment onwards, Getafe got on top and carved out chance after chance to have put themselves ahead, but they came up against an inspired Cuellar in the R.Sporting goal. The Sporting goalkeeper was on hand to parry a Pedro Leon effort , before intervening to block another Sarabia shot to ensure that the teams went in all square at the break.

Sporting draw first blood

Right at the start of the second half, Alvaro Vazquez spurned a golden opportunity to have put the Azulones into the driving seat, and with their first real chance of the game, Sporting struck to boost their Liga BBVA survival hopes. Sergio Alvarez pounced on a loose ball from a corner and produced an acrobatic finish to breathe life into his team and leave Getafe with it all to do.

Pivotal sending-off

However, Sporting's joy was short-lived as no sooner had they got themselves in front than they were reduced to 10 men, after Nacho Cases was shown a second yellow card. The hosts made their numerical advantage tell to go on and dominate proceedings, but Cuellar was on top form as he came to the Asturians' rescue time and time again. The Madrilenians nevertheless kept plugging away in search of an equaliser.

Scepovic to the rescue 

Getafe's one-man advantage saw them stamp their authority on proceedings, as they continued to lay siege to Cuellar's goal. The hosts' pressure finally paid when Stefan Scepovic nodded home a free-kick to hand Getafe a point to move them out of the drop zone and leave their destiny in their own hands going into the final matchday, when they travel to R.Betis. As for Sporting, they remain in the relegation spots and their survival chances depend on them beating Villarreal CF, whilst hoping that Getafe slip up in Seville.