Racing Santander 4 - Numancia 2

Racing: Ceballos; Tais, Txema, Mellberg, Sietes; Manjarín, Julio Alvarez (Espina 63'), Jaime, Amavisca; Rushfeldt (Estévez 57'), Preciado (Morán 80'). 4-4-2.
Numancia: Nuñez; Manel, Muñiz, Gustavo, Octavio (David Pirri 37'); Iñaki, Marini, Nagore (José Manuel 53'), Pacheta; Ojeda (Rosu 77'), Rubén Navarro. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Racing: Tais, Txema, Julio Alvarez for Pineda, Nafti, Espina / Numancia: None.

Goals:
0-1. 13. Ojeda. Ball went in off his shoulder after cross from Iñaki on right side.
1-1. 23. Preciado. Strong header after high ball through from Tais.
2-1. 38. Preciado. Glancing header from Julio Alvarez cross from right wing.
3-1. 60. Amavisca (penalty). After Nuñez ruled to have brought down Estévez.
3-2. 77. José Manuel. Shot from outside area that deflected off Espina.
4-2. 93. Amavisca (penalty). Another dubious foul on Estévez, this time by Manel.

Racing Santander recorded their first win of the season and their first at their own Sardinero stadium for eight months following seven draws and two defeats in their last nine games at home. Their start to this season has been a nightmare, with games against Real Madrid, Barcelona and Deportivo amongst their first five matches, and as a result they began this one at the bottom of the table with only two points to their name. Manager Andoni Goikoetxea opted for a more experienced side, leaving out Pineda and Nafti to make room for Tais and Txema, although he did make one concession to youth, bringing back Real Madrid's on-loan midfielder Julio Alvarez for Espina. Numancia's manager Paco Herrera kept the same team that drew against Bilbao last week.

Although the home side players promised to look for goal right from the start, it was the visitors who dominated at the beginning, with Ojeda and Pacheta creating chances early on. In the 12th minute they took a deserved lead, although the goal when it came was somewhat fortunate, Ojeda not expecting the ball to get past Mellberg and eventually bundling it into the net off his shoulder. Goiko urged his players on, and Preciado finally made a name for himself after a long period in the dark with two well taken headed goals before half time. Rushfeldt had a chance to extend the lead, but Nuñez dived full stretch to keep out his header.

Herrera brought on Pirri before the break and added José Manuel shortly afterwards to tighten up midfield, but it was Goiko's substitution of Estévez for Rushfeldt which had more effect. The slippery Argentinian fell as if poleaxed in the penalty area within minutes of coming on, and referee Medina Cantelejo ruled that Nuñez had brought him down. It was a dubious decision, but Amavisca stepped up to take the penalty kick and restore the two goal margin. Once again Numancia got back in the game with a shot from José Manuel which took a deflection of substitute Espina's heel, and after Ceballos saved from Rubén Navarro, Gustavo missed a sitter in front of goal which would have levelled the scores.

But the game wasn't finished yet, and Estévez once again fell in the area after a tackle from Manel. Medina Cantalejo had no doubts and pointed straight to the penalty spot, sending off the full back after giving him a second yellow card. To the delight of his fans, Amavisca sent the ball in to the other side of the goal for Racing's highest haul since their 2-5 win a year ago against Real Sociedad. Goiko breathed a sigh of relief, the pressure off him momentarily at least as his side climbed out of the relegation zone. Numancia are a couple of points ahead of them in thirteenth place, but with only three points separating eighth from eighteenth at this early stage, a couple of bad results and they will be back down again.