Wonder goal wins it for Betis

Real Betis moved clear in fourth place in the Primera Division with a 3-2 win over Deportivo La Coruna.

Real Betis moved clear in fourth place in the Primera Division as Joel Campbell's wonder goal 14 minutes from time secured a 3-2 victory over Deportivo La Coruna in a highly entertaining game at La Riazor. Two fine finishes either side of half-time from Ruben Castro had put the visitors in a strong position but Riki pulled a goal back almost immediately and then levelled with a neat volley on the hour mark. Both sides then went in search of the winner but it was Betis who got it as Campbell cut inside onto his left foot and curled a brilliant shot into the top corner from 25 yards. Defeat for Malaga earlier in the weekend had given Betis the chance to take a grip on the final Champions League place, but it was Depor, looking to move out of the relegation zone, who started by far the brighter. Riki should have scored when one-on-one with Adrian after 14 minutes but shot straight at the goalkeeper before Juan Carlos Valeron was very unfortunate to see his curling effort come back off the crossbar. However, the hosts were hit by a sucker punch seven minutes before half-time as Castro freed Nacho down the left and then rose highest at the back post to head the full-back's cross beyond Daniel Aranzubia. Nine minutes into the second half the two combined again as this time Nacho's low ball to the near post was expertly guided into the far corner by Castro for his eighth league goal of the campaign. Depor refused to give up and were level within six minutes as first Riki latched onto Laure's deflected header to nod past Adrian and then steered home nicely after the Betis defence had failed to clear a free-kick from the right. Both sides then had chances to go in front as Jorge Molina flashed a shot inches past Aranzubia's right-hand post and then Pizzi forced Adrian into a decent stop with a fierce drive. But it was the visitors who eventually took advantage of an increasingly open game as Benat fed Campbell midway inside the Depor half and he strode forward before bending a wicked effort into the top-right corner of the net. Betis should have added to their lead as Depor desperately chased an equaliser but both Campbell and Castro were guilty of passing up excellent opportunities and they were nearly made to pay as Abel Aguilar headed just over in the final seconds.