Falcao treble helps Atletico rout Racing
Reuters - Sunday 18 September 2011, 17:59
MADRID - New signing Radamel Falcao lit
up the Calderon with a splendid hat-trick to set Atletico Madrid
on the way to a 4-0 win at home to Racing Santander in La Liga
on Sunday.
The Colombian striker, top scorer in last season's Europa
League with 17 goals as he led Porto to the title, netted the
opener in the 23rd minute at a sun-bathed stadium after good
work by former Arsenal winger Jose Antonio Reyes.
His second came from the penalty spot in the 36th after
Brazilian Diego, another close-season addition to Gregorio
Manzano's squad, had been felled in the box.
Atletico's third high-profile new signing, Turkey midfielder
Arda Turan, then played Falcao through to complete his treble
with a deft chip over goalkeeper Tono 10 minutes after the
break.
Brought in to help fill the gap left by the departures of
Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero, the Colombian was given a
rousing ovation by the home fans when he was substituted midway
through the second half.
Turan claimed his second assist with just over 10 minutes
left when he crossed for substitute Adrian to glance a header
past Tono for the home side's fourth to round off their first
win of the campaign.
Valencia made it three win in three thanks to a 1-0 win at
Sporting Gijon on Saturday and are two points ahead of Barca,
who drew 2-2 at Real Sociedad last weekend and 2-2 at home to AC
Milan in the Champions League in midweek.
Real Zaragoza forward Luis Garcia had an eventful match
against his former club Espanyol in Sunday's earlier kickoff,
smashing in a stoppage-time winner for a 2-1 victory minutes
after he seeing his penalty saved by Cristian Alvarez.
Garcia, who joined Zaragoza in the close-season, put his new
club ahead in the 29th minute before Javi Lopez equalised with
20 minutes left.
In Sunday's Madrid derby, promoted Rayo Vallecano claimed
their first win of the campaign with a 1-0 success at Getafe.