Deportivo La Coruna defeat Rayo Vallecano for first win of La Liga season
MADRID - Luis Alberto set up one goal before scoring another as Deportivo La Coruna beat Rayo Vallecano 3-1 for its first win of the Spanish league season on Monday.
Alberto, who arrived on loan from Liverpool this season, crossed for Celso Borges to score with a skillful header in the seventh minute at Rayo's Vallecas Stadium. Adrian Embara equalized in the 27th when Patrick Ebert smartly let a pass run through to unsettle the defense and leave his teammate alone to beat Deportivo goalkeeper German Lux.
But Deportivo restored its lead for good seconds after the restart, when Alberto drove a low strike into the lower corner of the net following a bungle by two Rayo defenders who clashed while trying to clear the ball.
Striker Lucas Perez proved a pest for Rayo's defenders with his pressure and constant darting runs, one of which Pedro Mosquera met with a through ball for the former Rayo player to seal the victory in the 61st.
Rayo finished with 10 men after Ebert was sent off with a second booking for protesting in the 77th. Deportivo's win lifted the Galician side into seventh place on five points after three rounds.
Rayo was left winless and in second-to-last place with one point. ''We needed to keep more possession, create more chances and just play our style,'' said Embara. ''We can only keep training and I am sure we will improve.''
Barcelona leads the league as the only team to win the first three games of the season. Real Madrid, Celta Vigo, Villarreal and Eibar are next with seven points each.
