Primera Liga: Manacho late show earns Rayo Vallecano victory at Granada

Manucho scored with virtually the last kick of the game as Rayo Vallecano snatched a 1-0 win at Granada.

Manucho scored with virtually the last kick of the game as Rayo Vallecano snatched a 1-0 win at Granada.

Manucho fired a low shot across goal after latching on to Gael Kakuta's lay-off inside the area, sealing what was a deserved win on the balance of play.

The two teams began the night level pegging on points, but Rayo jump up to eighth with the win while Granada stay 13th.

The first half was almost all Rayo as they dominated possession yet struggled to carve out clear chances.

After a string of corners, their first decent opening would have resulted in a goal but for a fine save from Roberto Fernandez.

Leo Baptistao charged forward from midfield but when he was felled, somewhat dubiously, on the edge of the area the ball rolled for Lica to send a curling shot towards the top corner, only for Fernandez to paw it over for a corner.

Eight minutes later, Roberto Trashorras' mis-hit volley turned into a through-ball for Alberto Bueno, but the goalkeeper was quickly out to close him down.

Attack

Granada had not been seen as an attacking force, other than an Alfredo Ortuno header which went narrowly over in first-half stoppage-time, moments after Rayo had lost Bueno to an injury.

It was a very different start to the second half as Granada came forward in waves, with Piti going close early on after a neat flick to control a low cross.

Just after the hour mark a fine bit of play and a great long ball from Fran Rico set up Dimitri Foulquier but a timely tackle took the sting out of his shot.

It was the start of a frantic period of play, with debutant Antonio Amaya twice bailing out Rayo in defence while, at the other end, Emiliano Insua drilled a shot just over.

But as the game wore the tension grew.

Rayo thought they had scored in the 85th minute when substitute Manucho turned in Trashorras' mis-hit shot but he was flagged offside, and Fernandez's swiftly taken free-kick gave Ruben Rochina the chance to break.

Instead he was hauled down unceremoniously by Insua, who escaped with a booking when he might have seen red.

However, Manucho would have the last word, three minutes into stoppage-time when his low angled shot went in off the left-hand post to cap a neat Rayo attack.