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Diogo, Milito lead Zaragoza over Sevilla
AP, MADRID, SPAIN
Monday, Jan 08, 2007, Page 20
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Sevilla's Luis Fabiano, left, vies with Real Zaragoza's Juanfran during their La Liga match at Romareda Stadium in Zaragoza, Spain, on Saturday.
PHOTO: AFP
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Carlos Diogo and Diego Milito scored and Zaragoza inflicted a 2-1 defeat on Spanish league leader Sevilla on Saturday.
Sevilla's loss ended its three-game winning streak and would have allowed defending champion FC Barcelona to claim first place if it won yesterday at Getafe.
Zaragoza's victory at La Roma-reda Stadium lifted the side into fourth place.
Diogo and Sevilla's goal scorer, Luis Fabiano, were ejected on the stroke of time for trading blows.
Also, Atletico Madrid drew last-place Gimnastic Tarragona 0-0, while Real Sociedad continued its recent improvement with a 2-1 win over Osasuna.
Sevilla has 37 points from 17 games, while Barcelona has 34 from 15. Real Madrid follows with 32 points from 16. Zaragoza has 30 from 16.
Zaragoza back Diogo, on loan this season from Real Madrid, gave his side a 14th-minute lead from Andres D'Alessandro's corner with a glancing header off the right post.
Milito doubled Zaragoza's lead in the 51st with his 12th goal of the season although, he enjoyed some good fortune in making the shot.
Milito's header from Diogo's cross rebounded off Sevilla defender Javi Navarro and onto his arms, allowing him to fire a shot which goalkeeper Andres Palop parried on the line. Milito then ran in to score from close range.
Sevilla, the league's top-scoring side, halved the deficit with 20 minutes remaining when Luis Fabiano poked the ball over the line after Daniel Alves cut in from the right before delivering a low cross.
Atletico, with its sights on a Champions League place at the end of the season, dropped to fifth place after creating few opportunities against a Gimnastic side with only two wins all season.
Sociedad, which failed to win in its opening 14 games of this season, beat Osasuna to tally seven points in its three matches since then.
Sociedad midfielder Xabi Prieto claimed the honor of scoring the league's first goal of the year when he converted a penalty in the 20th minute.
Sociedad goalkeeper Claudio Bravo gifted Osasuna a 57th-minute equalizer when he fumbled a long shot by substitute Raul Garcia. Midfielder Mikel Aranburu netted the home side's winner in the 90th minute.
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