Getafe 2-4 Valencia: Four Goals From Soldado Keep Los Che’s European Hopes Alive

Valencia came from behind to storm to a sensational 4-2 victory over Getafe as Roberto Soldado bagged all four goals for Los Che to cancel out Manu del Moral’s opener.

From the opening minutes it looked clear that Valencia had come to the Alfonso Perez intent on taking advantage of Getafe’s dreadful form of late, winning just one game in their last 13. Sitting just five points from the relegation zone, Getafe desperately needed a victory at their home ground. However, Valencia were not about to hand it to them.

For the first ten minutes of the game Los Che confidently maintained possession, putting pressure on the home defene and showing an attacking intent that boded ill for Getafe.

However, Los Azulones soon seemed to find their spark, with the opening tame shots on goal coming from the home side. Valencia’s defense was looking vulnerable to through balls, and Getafe’s men up front were repeatedly allowed the ball without pressure from Unai Emery’s men.

Los Che paid for their defensive leniency in the 12 minute, when Manu slipped the ball into the box to Mosquera, who provided a simple but well placed back heel for Manu to run on to, skip past a couple of defenders and slam the ball home in the bottom left hand corner, for his fourth goal in as many games.

Getafe’s goal rejuvenated the team, and the long suffering fans, and demoralized a Valencia that might soon part with Emery. El Geta looked increasingly dangerous on the counter attack, and had a number of chances with last ditch defending from Dealbert and Ricardo Costo preventing the Azulones from doubling their tally.

The tables turned in the next 15 minutes, with Soldado missing two great chances in as many minutes: his first a chip over the goalkeeper that trickled wide, and only brilliant reflexes from Ustari prevented Soldado from tapping home a cross from Tino Costa.

The second half kicked off in emphatic fashion with Soldado hitting home within two minutes, slotting a pass from Mata into the bottom corner. The goal left Getafe visibly deflated, and with Valencia’s belief appearing anew it seemed only a matter of time before Los Che got their second. In the 66th minute, Soldado struck again with another beautiful finish, latching onto a ball from Jonas, and just one minute later he got his hat-trick.

It became a one sided game after the third goal, with Valencia maintaining possession and looking threatening at every forward run. Then, incredibly, Soldado got his fourth of the night, volleying a superb cross from Mata that Ustari could only get his fingertips to.

In the 88th minute Getafe pulled one back through the efforts of Sardinero as he sidefooted past Cesar, but it was too little too late.

Valencia headed home from the Alfonso Perez with a much needed victory orchestrated by Soldado, leaving Getafe in the worrying depths of the drop zone.