Mallorca keep their hopes alive

Mallorca live to fight another day as a solitary goal by Tomer Hemed guided them to a 1-0 victory over Real Betis.

Mallorca live to fight another day as a solitary goal by Tomer Hemed guided them to victory over Real Betis as they refuse to accept relegation from the Primera Division. Mallorca moved to within three points of safety courtesy of tonight's win with two matches remaining although fellow battlers Real Zaragoza have a better head-to-head record between the two sides this season. It thus looks grim for Mallorca. Victory then was imperative and they started off with real intent, Jose Luis Marti firing over in the opening minutes before the hosts came within inches of taking the lead. Casadeus Victor's close-range header was parried by Betis goalkeeper San Miguel Adrian with Hemed following up but his shot hit the post before he then fired wide. The keeper then tipped Victor's shot around the post before eventually Mallorca's pressure paid off and they took a 21st-minute lead. Again Victor was involved, his shot parried by Adrian only for Hemed to pounce and slot the ball low into the centre of the goal. Moments later Victor's shot was gathered by the keeper as Mallorca made a nonsense of their rock-bottom status while their visitors had as yet shown nothing as an attacking force. Victor was a constant menace and Hemed volleyed wide before Betis finally produced an effort on goal three minutes before half-time when Martin Ruben Castro headed over the bar from Salva Sevilla's free-kick. The break offered little respite for Betis with Victor and Hemed merely picking up where they had left off. Sevilla had a shot blocked for the visitors but there was notably less joy for the hosts in the second half. Instead, little happened with the match apparently heading for a less than spectacular - although vital - victory as the clock wound down with Mallorca grateful to seize all three points.