Racing Santander 2, Valencia 2: Otorbi's equaliser keeps points shared
The lead changed hands twice at El Sardinero before Valencia substitute David Otorbi levelled it in the 65th minute.
Racing Santander and Valencia shared the points at El Sardinero on Sunday in a 2-2 draw in which the lead changed hands twice and Valencia needed a substitute's goal to rescue a point.
How the goals came
Valencia took the lead after two minutes, according to the club's own match report. Dani Raba collected a ball from Justin De Haas, drove into the box and finished past Racing goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala. Racing equalised in the 32nd minute, when Yassir Zabiri scored from a through-ball by Iñigo Vicente.
Racing then went in front within two minutes of the restart. Iván Martín scored with a shot from outside the box in the 47th minute to make it 2-1. Valencia responded through a substitute: David Otorbi, who had come on at 58 minutes, finished a Javi Guerra assist in the 65th to level it at 2-2.
The closing stages
Neither side found a winner, though both came close. Valencia's report says goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski made a diving save in stoppage time to deny Racing a winner, and that in the 93rd minute Hugo Duro's effort hit the outside of the post after a cut-back from Otorbi. Earlier, in the 44th minute, Guerra had been put clear by a pass from José Luis Gayà but shot wide.
Match statistics reported by La Nación show Racing with the greater share of the play: 20 shots to Valencia's 10, 11 of them on target, along with 54.1 per cent of possession and eight corners to three. Those numbers fit a game in which Racing were the side pressing for a late goal, though the draw means they could not turn that territory into three points.
What it means
La Nación lists the standings after matchday 8 as Racing on 8 points in 15th place and Valencia on 5 points in 19th. That is a single-source table and should be treated as such; Torch has not independently confirmed the positions. On those numbers, Valencia remain close to the bottom of the table and will take some relief from coming from behind to avoid defeat.
Valencia host Athletic Club at Mestalla on Saturday in matchday 9. The match was refereed by Luis Bestard.