Cadiz beats Girona 2-0 to escape drop zone in Liga

MADRID (AP) — Cadiz beat Girona 2-0 at home to escape from the Spanish league relegation zone on Friday.

The modest team from southern Spain jumped from 18th to 15th place before the rest of the round.

Valencia fell into the bottom three and in danger of the drop.

Midfielder Gonzalo Escalante and striker Sergi Guardiola, who both joined Cadiz in the winter transfer market, scored for the hosts.

Escalante controlled a cross by Brian Ocampo and fired into the upper part of the net for the sixth-minute opener — and his second goal in three games for his new club.

Guardiola added another goal in the 34th with a strike from an angle after Theo Bondonga led a counterattack.

Coach Sergio González has managed to turn Cadiz around after its horrible start to the season of five straight losses with no goals scored. Since then it has gone unbeaten at home in eight games. It has been in the relegation zone since Round 2.

“We needed this win,” Guardiola said. “Like I said when I arrived here, if we stick together we will pull through.”

Girona remained in 11th place.

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