Willian Jose scores only goal as Las Palmas win at Real Sociedad

19 March 2016 20:23

A first-half goal from Willian Jose proved enough to give Las Palmas a hard-earned 1-0 win at Real Sociedad and boost their Primera Division survival hopes.

Willian Jose struck six minutes before half-time as the Islanders secured a fourth win in five games that has moved them five points clear of the drop, and just two points behind their opponents.

The visitors were gifted an opportunity to take an early lead when awarded a penalty after only 12 minutes as Inigo Martinez tripped Aythami Artiles on the right side of the box but Jonathan Viera's tame effort was saved by Geronimo Rulli. The rebound fell to Figueroa Momo, but he could only send an angled drive over the crossbar.

Las Palmas took the lead after t he referee awarded an indirect free-kick inside the penalty area for a high boot from Martinez as midfielder Tana tried to head the ball goalwards following a rebound off the goalkeeper. The ball was tapped sideways by Viera to Brazilian forward Willian Jose, who drilled it into the bottom left corner from six yards despite a mass of players on the goal-line.

It was almost 2-0 in stoppage time when Nabil El Zhar was played in on the overlap down the right, but his angled drive was beaten away by Rulli.

La Real resumed the second half on the offensive, as Jonathas stabbed a low cross from the left just wide, but the Brazilian forward had been flagged offside.

On the hour, Rulli turned away a curling 18-yard effort from Tana and with a minute left, Las Palmas winger Dani Castellano dragged his shot just wide.

Source: PA