Espí's Late Strike Gives Levante Crucial Win Over 10-Man Getafe
Carlos Espí's 83rd-minute goal secures vital three points in relegation battle
Levante took a massive step towards La Liga survival on Monday night, beating Getafe 1-0 thanks to Carlos Espí's late winner in a dramatic encounter at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia. The victory moves the hosts up to 32 points, though they remain in the relegation zone in 19th place.
The match started with early controversy when Espí had a red card cancelled in the 10th minute, only to receive a yellow card moments later. The striker would have the last laugh, however, proving to be Levante's match-winner despite the early booking.
Levante dominated proceedings throughout, controlling 63% of possession and registering an impressive 22 shots to Getafe's five. The hosts created genuine chances but struggled to find the breakthrough against a resolute Getafe defence marshalled by goalkeeper David Soria, who made three crucial saves to keep his side in the game.
The second half saw both managers make tactical adjustments, with substitutions flying in from the 55th minute onwards. Getafe's discipline began to crumble as the pressure mounted, with Luis Vázquez picking up a yellow card just after the restart, followed by bookings for Djene Dakonam, Zaid Romero, and Domingos Duarte as the visitors struggled to contain Levante's attacking threat.
The breakthrough finally came in the 83rd minute when Espí found the net, assisted by Manuel Sánchez de la Peña, to send the home crowd into raptures. The goal was richly deserved given Levante's dominance, with their 2.90 expected goals vastly superior to Getafe's meagre 0.29.
Getafe's frustrations boiled over in the dying moments, with Zaid Romero receiving his second yellow card in the 90th minute to complete a miserable evening for the visitors. The left-back's dismissal capped off a night where Getafe collected six yellow cards and lost their disciplinary composure.
Jon Ander Olasagasti led Levante's SAM ratings with an excellent 7.1/10 performance, contributing to the clean sheet that proved crucial. Carlos Espí earned a 6.2/10 rating for his match-winning contribution, while Manuel Sánchez de la Peña matched that score with his assist and defensive solidity.
This victory represents a vital result for Levante's survival hopes, though they remain three points from safety. For Getafe, sitting comfortably in 8th place, this was a missed opportunity to build on their recent good form and push towards European qualification.