Iago Aspas on Friday avoided an early red card thanks to a video review, had a goal chalked off just before halftime and then capped an eventful game by scoring RC Celta de Vigo’s winner against Deportivo Alaves in La Liga.
The 37-year-old Aspas was the focal point for Celta for much of last season and picked up where he left off in their opening game, netting in the 84th minute to seal a 2-1 victory for the hosts.
He had been shown a red card after seven minutes when his arm made contact with Antonio Blanco, but it was downgraded to a yellow after a review.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Blanco’s cross to Kike Garcia set up the opening goal for Alaves 10 minutes later.
Aspas had a goal disallowed for offside before halftime, but Celta equalized midway through the second half thanks to Williot Swedberg’s superb strike with the outside of his boot.
Aspas then received Swedberg’s defense-splitting pass to score the winner with six minutes left.
“Iago is eternal,” Alaves coach Luis Garcia said. “He gets one chance and he puts it away.”
In the night’s other game, UD Las Palmas came from a goal down twice to hold Sevilla to a 2-2 draw, with both sides scoring own-goals.
Alex Suarez’s deflected a cross past his own goalkeeper to give Sevilla the lead, while Tanguy Nianzo also put one in his own net.
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