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Sociedad score 3 goals, but Deportivo win
November 09, 2003 05:09 IST
Deportivo La Coruna recovered from their midweek European Champions League humiliation to reclaim the top spot in the Spanish Primera Liga on Saturday with a 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad courtesy of two Igor Jauregi own goals.
Deportivo, handed a crushing 8-3 defeat by Monaco on Wednesday, were in trouble again on their return to domestic duty when Nihat Kahveci gave Sociedad the lead midway through the first half.
Deportivo almost fell behind after five minutes, when goalkeeper Jose Molina only just managed to clear a Nihat free kick.
Sociedad threatened again after 20 minutes, Darko Kovacevic smacking a header just wide from Igor Gabilondo's cross.
Deportivo seemed content to sit back and avoid the sort of mistakes they made against Monaco, but they found themselves a goal down when Nihat picked the ball up 25 metres out and curled a shot inside Molina's near post.
But the game turned with Jauregi's first own goal in the 72nd minute. The defender, under pressure from Walter Pandiani, mishit his attempted clearance of a Juan Capdevila cross to beat his own 'keeper Sander Westerveld at the near post and level the scores.
Deportivo were a team transformed and surged ahead in search of a winner. After a couple of near misses, it arrived in the 88th minute when Pandiani just managed to get his head to a Djalminha corner, the ball striking the unfortunate Jauregi's back and flashing past Westerveld.
Deportivo are now back at the top of the table with 25 points from 11 matches.
Valencia and Real Madrid, both with 23 points from 10 games, will look to move back ahead of Deportivo with victories on Sunday. Valencia are at home to Racing Santander, while Real travel to take on Sevilla.
Osasuna, in fourth place with 17 points, are at home to Valladolid in another of Sunday's games.
Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao climbed up to fifth place with an uninspiring 1-0 win at home over bottom club Espanol.
Bilbao's victory, which came via an early goal from Andoni Iraola, spoiled the homecoming for former Athletic coach Luis Fernandez, who replaced Javier Clemente in charge at Espanol in midweek.