LA CORUNA, Spain -- Deportivo La Coruna beat 10-man Celta Vigo 3-1 in a Galicia regional derby on Friday, boosting its chances of staying in Spain's first division.
Deportivo's fourth win in 28 games left it in last place, three points behind Celta, which stayed another three points from safety with 10 rounds to go.
"Winning this game reinforces our morale," said Deportivo midfielder Juan Carlos Valeron. "It was an important game with a lot at stake for us because of our situation in the table and our rival."
Ivan "Riki" Sanchez opened in the ninth minute with a well-taken shot after adroitly controlling Valeron's pass with his thigh.
The match swung even further against Celta when Iago Aspas left his team with 10 men in the 29th after he head-butted Deportivo's Carlos Marchena following a collision in the box.
Defender Silvio Azevedo volleyed in a rebound from outside the area to double Deportivo's lead in the 64th.
Substitute Diogo Salomao struck home for the hosts in the 79th before Park Chu-Young pulled one back for Celta two minutes later.
Deportivo plays two more direct rivals in danger of the drop -- Mallorca and Real Zaragoza -- over the next two rounds.
"Our coach has been preparing us for his stretch of the schedule," said Valeron. "We have taken the first step by winning this game, and now we have to keep on winning."
Deportivo and Celta were both promoted this season. Celta is winless in its last eight away games.
