A spectacular volley by defender Jose Manuel “Chema” Rodriguez led Levante over Real Sociedad 3-0 in the Spanish league on Thursday.
Chema struck an incredible scissor-kick left-footed shot from just outside the area.
Goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli could only watch as it crossed in front of him.
Chema leaned his body slightly and timed his shot perfectly after a right-side cross by Jose Luis Morales just before halftime at Ciutat de Valencia Stadium.
Levante forward Alex Alegria immediately raised his hands to his head in awe after the ball hit the net.
Morales added Levante’s second goal by converting a 75th-minute penalty kick, and Enis Bardhi sealed the victory for the host with a well-struck free kick in the 89th.
Real Sociedad played the final minutes with 10 men after Diego Llorente was sent off with a second yellow card for the foul that led to Bardhi’s free kick goal.
Villarreal’s three-game winning run was halted at home by Espanyol 0-0.
Villarreal was coming off three victories in which it scored three goals in each match.
Espanyol was looking for its second straight win after starting with one draw and two losses.
Angel Rodriguez scored an 86th-minute equaliser as Getafe held Celta Vigo to 1-1 that left both teams near the bottom of the standings.
Maxi Gomez put the host ahead midway through the first half at Balaidos Stadium.
Celta is 17th in the 20-team standings, while Getafe is 14th.
The results :
La Liga : Villarreal 0 drew with Espanyol 0; Celta Vigo 1 (Gomez 25) drew with Getafe 1 (Angel Rodriguez 86); Levante 3 (Chema Rodriguez 45, Morales 75-pen, Bardhi 89) bt Real Sociedad 0.
