Castro brace spurs Betis

Ruben Castro scored a goal in each half as Real Betis claimed their second consecutive Primera Division victory and left opponents Real Zaragoza rooted to the bottom of the table. The Spanish striker opened the scoring four minutes before the break and added his second in the 67th minute as his side boosted their hopes of claiming a UEFA Europa League spot with the 2-0 win. The home side made an encouraging start and almost grabbed the lead in the seventh minute when Ruben Micael saw his 20-yard effort tipped around the post by Betis goalkeeper Fabricio Agosto. Luis Garcia saw a header booted clear by Jose Antonio Dorado and moments later the same player forced Fabricio to punch to safety as Zaragoza continued to look most likely to score. Angel Laffita also came close before Castro's opener against the run of play when he was fed by Jose Canas on the right and unleashed a right-footed shot into the top corner of Roberto Jimenez's net. Zaragoza pressed for an equaliser early in the second half with Apono firing just wide, but Betis should have extended their lead on the hour when Castro and Salva Sevilla both had shots blocked in the box. Six minutes later the visitors secured victory when Jimenez could only parry a shot from Jorge Molina and Castro followed up with a low right-footed shot past the keeper from 12 yards. Zaragoza forced a handful of late corners, but failed to put pressure on the Betis goal and remain stranded five points adrift of second-bottom Sporting Gijon.