New Delhi: Villarreal needed the help of the linesman to beat Recreativo Huelva on Thursday evening as they managed to move back into contention for a Champions League berth.
They ended their miserable recent form as they beat third from bottom Recreativo Huelva in controversial circumstances at El Madrigal.
The home side dominated for large periods of the match but could only break Recre down once in the first-half, when Joseba Llorente deftly chipped the 'keeper just before half-time.
That goal levelled the score after Javier Camunas had given the visitor's the lead in the first few minutes of the game, following some poor defending from Villarreal.
Things took a turn for the worst for Recre after the break when Cani's goal bound shot was cleared off the line by the defence, but given as a goal by the officials.
The decision visibly enraged the visiting team and now leaves them hanging on for dear life in La Primera after Espanyol triumphed against Sporting Gijon this evening.
With a passionate home crowd behind them, Villarreal got off to the worst possible start, when some lackluster defending allowed Camunas to nip in and poke past Diego Lopez from close range. The goal was yet another set back in a difficult few weeks for Manuel Pellegrini's team, but they responded well and Cani saw an effort go just wide a minute later.
With their lead, Recre seemed content to allow the hosts the ball and began to play on the counter, with Camunas nearly adding a second from a Cristain Maidana cross. Villarreal looked the more likely to score though and both Llorente and Rossi showed flashes of their talent before being stopped by some last ditch tackles.
The tall striker did eventually get his team back into the match with half-time approaching though as he latched onto a ball on the edge of box and somehow chipped Asier Riesgo, who was only inches off his line. It was a sublime finish from Llorente but poor goalkeeping too, and despite leading for most of the half, Recre probably should have gone in behind.
A cross from the right by Cani missed all the defenders and Italian striker Rossi somehow hit the Recreativo player on the line, rather than put it into the gaping net.A goal-line scramble ensued but Riesgo eventually claimed it to bring the half to an eventful end.
Following that miss, Rossi was taken off by Pellegrini and Nihat replaced him for the second-half, but with no immediate effect. The closest the home team went was when Ariel Ibagaza chipped into the box and Diego Godin very nearly got on the end of it, whilst Recre started to play with more conviction than they did for much of the first 45 minutes.
However, it was Villarreal who eventually managed to take the lead in highly controversial circumstances. When Recre failed to stop Cani's run down the right his chip over the 'keeper appeared to be heading for the back of the net but was cleared brilliantly off the line by the defender, although not in the eyes of the linesman, who raised his flag to signal a goal. The decision sparked outrage amongst the visiting players but their protests went unheard as the referee waved the teams back to the half-way line.
It was a bitter pill for Recre to swallow and they could have been two behind minutes later but Nihat was adjudged to have been offside when he got the faintest of flicks on a goal bound free kick. With the lead, Villarreal were far less adventurous coming forward but even though Recre had a few chances towards the death, they could not find the back of the net again.
Villarreal 2-1 Recreativo Huelva
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