Valencia keep title hopes alive with late win

MADRID, May 20 (Reuters) Valencia kept alive their slim hopes of winning the Spanish title when a late strike from midfielder Joaquin earned them a 1-0 win at Real Mallorca.

The winger swept a well-struck shot low into the corner after Jorge Lopez had prised open the Mallorca defence with a clever back heel a minute from time to break the islanders' seven-match winning streak at Son Moix yesterday.

Valencia's fourth victory in a row pushed them up to third place in the table, one point behind leaders Real Madrid and Barcelona and one ahead of Sevilla, all of whom play today.

Real Zaragoza tightened their grip on fifth place after an extraordinary 4-3 victory at home to struggling Athletic Bilbao whose striker Aritz Aduriz hit a hat-trick but still ended up on the losing side.

Struggling Real Betis scrambled a 1-1 draw at home to basement side Gimnastic Tarragona to earn themselves a vital point that helped stave off the threat of relegation.

Betis appeared to be heading for a costly defeat when striker Javier Portillo gave Gimnastic the lead from the penalty spot in the 89th minute, but forward Xisco headed home deep into injury time to level the game.

Zaragoza looked on course for an easy win at La Romareda after storming into a 4-1 lead against a sorry-looking Athletic.

Argentine striker Diego Milito put the home side ahead with his first goal in six games, smashing a shot high into the net in the 16th minute to take his tally for the season to 20.

REELING Athletic were still reeling from the blow when right back Carlos Diogo added a second when he sent a fierce shot fizzing low into the far corner from the edge of the area.

Athletic pulled one back when Aduriz took advantage of a defensive error to sweep a low shot around keeper Cesar and into the far corner in the 35th minute.

But the Basque side undid their good work when they conceded two more goals before the break.

Striker Sergio Garcia fired into the top corner after a neat assist from Pablo Aimar and defender Ander Murillo headed an Andres D'Alessandro free kick into his own net on the stroke of halftime.

But Aduriz continued his solo bid to revive Athletic's fortunes when he fired home from the spot after Cesar had brought winger Joseba Etxeberria down in the area.

He completed his hat-trick four minutes later when he headed in from a corner, but his efforts were to no avail and defeat left Athletic just four points above the relegation zone with all their immediate rivals yet to play this weekend.

Reuters KK VP0500