Late goal gives Getafe 1-0 win over Valladolid

Getafe, Jan 10 (IANS) Getafe needed a goal in stoppage time to prevail 1-0 against Real Valladolid in the first leg of their Copa del Rey round-of-16 tie.

Both Getafe -- seventh in LaLiga with hopes of reaching Europe -- and newly promoted Valladolid, currently four points above the drop zone, opted to start mainly as subs for the contest on Wednesday, reports Efe news.

The only real scoring opportunity of a dull first half came two minutes before the break, when a header by Getafe's Ignasi Miquel went over the crossbar.

Things got livelier after the re-start. Valladolid's Daniele Verde forced a save by home goalkeeper Leandro Chichizola minutes before visiting netminder Yoel Rodriguez turned aside a strike by Getafe forward Samu Saiz.

Rodriguez was tested again a few minutes later by a Sebastian Cristoforo header from close range.

Two minutes into stoppage time, Rodriguez came off his line to stymie Getafe's Jorge Molina, who served up a cross for Angel to head into the empty net.