http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...ragoza?cc=4716
Real Madrid held by Villarreal
March 21, 2012
9-man Real Madrid suffered another Primera Division title wobble @ El Madrigal as Marcos Senna struck an 83rd-min equaliser 2 grab a 1-1 draw 4 struggling Villarreal.
Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring on 62 mins 4 Jose Mourinho's men, who had seen their 11-match winning run in La Liga ended by a home draw with Malaga on Sunday.
Aft Senna's leveller, the visitors imploded with Mourinho sent fr the dugout & Sergio Ramos & Mesut Ozil both red carded as Madrid were forced 2 settle 4 limping 6 points clear of 2nd-placed Barcelona.
Mourinho was dismissed 4 his reaction 2 the equaliser, Ramos 4 a 2nd yellow card & Ozil 4 apparent dissent, all in the space of 3 mins.
Apono scored twice as 9-man Real Zaragoza came fr a goal down 2 stun Valencia 2-1 @ the Mestalla & claim a huge 3 points in their survival bid.
Zaragoza, the Primera Division basement boys, looked destined 4 a 17th loss of the season when a goal & a man down aft only 21 mins, but frustrated their hosts & snatched victory thanks 2 Apono's accurate finish 13 mins fr time.
Pablo put the 3rd-placed hosts in front aft only 9 mins & they looked in 4 a comfortable evening when Pablo Alvarez was sent off in the 21st minute, but Apono levelled fr the spot 9 mins later &, with Valencia unable 2 make the most of their chances, put the visitors ahead deep in2 the 2nd half.
Zaragoza lost Franco Zuculini 2 a 2nd yellow card in the 88th min, but held on 4 a much-needed win.
A 2nd-half double fr Radamel Falcao secured a vital 3 points 4 Atletico Madrid in the race 4 next season's European places as they beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1.
Aft an uneventful 1st 45 mins, the hosts took the lead 4 mins in2 the 2nd half as Adrian Lopez freed himself just inside the area & aft his initial shot was well saved by Gorka Iraizoz, Falcao was on hand 2 bundle home the rebound.
The Colombian doubled Atletico's advantage with a fine diving header 20 mins fr time b4 Javi Martinez pulled a consolation goal back in stoppage time.
Levante came fr behind 2 beat 10-man Real Sociedad 3-1 & keep their surprise challenge 4 European qualification on track.
Jose Barkero's 12th-minute penalty cancelled out an early strike fr Carlos Vela b4 Arouna Kone put Levante ahead. Sociedad were reduced to 10 men aft 57 mins when defender Gorka Elustondo was sent off 4 a 2nd bookable offence.
Levante wrapped up the victory with an injury-time strike fr replacement Xavi Torres 2 move within 3 points of Valencia in 3rd place.
Real Mallorca took another big step 2wards Primera Division survival & left opponents Sporting Gijon further in the relegation mire aft edging a hard-fought match 3-2 @ El Molinon.
Mallorca twice took the lead thru Jose Carlos Nunes & an own goal fr Pedro Orfila, but were pegged back both times thru goals fr Adrian Colunga & Alberto Botia. However, Sporting could not find a third equaliser 2 cancel out Alvaro Gimenez's 77th-minute strike as Mallorca took the spoils.
The victory lifted the Balearic Island side 12 points abv the bottom 3 & now within sight of safety, but Sporting remain stuck in the bottom 2 following their 16th defeat of the season.