Ten-man Real Madrid beats Getafe to save coach's job

Ten-man Real Madrid beats Getafe to save coach's job

Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain celebrates his goal against Getafe during their Spanish First Division soccer match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid October 31,

MADRID, Oct. 31 -- Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain scored two goals to give 10-man Real Madrid a 2-0 home win against local rivals Getafe in the Spanish soccer league on Saturday.

Higuain struck twice in the second half to give his side a well-deserved win after playing for over an hour with a player less after the controversial sending off of defender Raul Albiol.

The win almost certainly saved the job of Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini after a run of only one win in five games.

Pellegrini produced a couple of surprises in his starting line up with club captain Raul dropping to the substitutes' bench to make way for Higuain, who partnered Karim Benzema in attack.

Alvaro Arbeloa returned at left back with Marcelo pushed forward into an advanced role on the left of midfield.

Following the midweek Cup humiliation away to third tier side Alcorcon, there were boos and whistles from the stands as the Madrid players walked onto the pitch.

After a tight opening, Benzema had the first chance of the match after 18 minutes, but Ustari was able to make the save, before Kaka hit a free kick into the Getafe defensive wall from the edge of the penalty area.

The game took what could have been a radical turn after 27 minutes after Albiol was shown a direct red card for a professional foul on Roberto Soldado.

The defender pulled Soldado back as the Getafe striker was through on goal and the referee Mateu Lahoz had no doubts in leaving Madrid to play the rest of the match with a player less.

It looked to be a harsh decision, but it seemed to bring the best out of Madrid and also changed the focus of the fans frustration from their team to the referee.

Getafe was unable to adapt its tactics to play against a player less and in the second half Higuain made them pay with two goals in rapid succession.

The first arrived after 53 minutes when he controlled the ball on his chest before firing home. While Getafe was still looking shell-shocked, he added the second after receiving a pass from Benzema.

Getafe never looked like getting back on level terms and had it not been for the post, Higuain would have completed a hat-trick.
(Xinhua)