Vela double helps Sociedad secure Champions League berth

Carlos Vela of Real Sociedad celebrates scoring their second goal during the UEFA Champions League Play-offs second leg match between Real Sociedad and Olympique Lyonnais at Estadio Anoeta on August 28, 2013 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Getty Images)

Madrid, Aug 29 (IANS): Real Sociedad of Spain booked their place in the lucrative group stage of the Champions League following a 2-0 win at home against French side Olympique Lyon.

Carlos Vela was the hero Wednesday night scoring both goals for the Basque sides’ to give them a 4-0 aggregate win, reports Xinhua.

With around 30 million dollars at stake if they qualified, the Basque players had commented that it was perhaps the most important game of their lives and that they needed to be quick off the mark after a 1-1 draw at the weekend in the Spanish league.

However, that message failed to sink home and for the opening minutes, the home side seemed nervous and allowed Lyon to dictate matters until Haris Seferovic set up Antoine Griezmanm who looked to chip Lyon keeper Anthony Lopes, but without success when clean through.

That was the sign for the home side to take control and after 20 minutes a magnificent passing move ended with Serefovic’s header blocked by a defender’s leg.

The second half continued with Lyon failing to threaten the Real Sociedad goal, while the home side failed to take their chances.

The goal finally came in the 67th minute as Vela headed home from a corner which came as the result of another Lopes save to deny Serefovic. The Mexican was left totally unmarked in the Lyon penalty area to head past the helpless Lyon keeper.

Lopes was Lyon’s man of the match and proved that with another flying save to deny Griezmann from a free kick just three minutes after the goal.

Lyon began to have more of the ball in the closing moments of the match, but were unable to create chances they needed against a well-organised Sociedad defence and Vela finished off the game with his second of the night following a weaving run through the Lyon defence in the last minute of the game to make it 2-0 on the night and 4-0 on aggregate.