Sunday, November 18, 2012

Song strike helps Barca down Zaragoza

Alex Song scored his first La Liga goal
to help Barcelona secure a 3-1 win
over Real Zaragoza at the Camp Nou
on Saturday night.
Lionel Messi also netted a brace for
the Catalans, while Francisco
Montanes scored the only goal for the
away side.
Messi put the home side ahead in the
16th minute as when collected a pass
from Jordi Alba and raced past Alvaro
Gonzalez before placing his shot past
Roberto Jimenez.
The visitors started to get into the
game and they were rewarded just
eight minutes later as Martin Montoya
cleared Franco Zuculini’s corner
towards Montanes, who then drilled
his shot past Victor Valdes.
However, the home side restored
their lead in the 28th minute when
Messi burst into the box and dribbled
past two defenders before cutting the
ball back for Song to finish from the
centre of the penalty area.
Tito Vilanova’s men continued to
dominate possession and four
minutes later Messi found Andres
Iniesta on the right, but the Spaniard
was unlucky to see his shot going just
wide of the near post.
Manolo Jimenez’ side almost leveled
matters for the second time four
minutes before the break but Zuculini
drilled his shot wide from just outside
the box as Barca took their slender
lead into the break.
Messi grabbed his second goal of the
match fifteen minutes into the second
half when he sidefooted into the far
post from the edge of the box after
receiving a cross from Montoya, who
had made a good run on the right.
The two goal cushion allowed the
hosts to control the pace of the game
but Zaragoza almost pulled one goal
back in the 75th minute when
substitute Helder Postiga collected the
ball outside the box, but his shot was
deflected wide by Carles Puyol.
Then five minutes later Barcelona
were unlucky not to add to their tally
when Messi found Iniesta on the left,
but his curled shot came off the
woodwork as the hosts comfortably
saw out the rest of the match to
collect maximum points for the 11th
time this season.


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