24 September 2007, by Lorna Danion

Simao opens account in Atletico thrashing

Atletico Madrid 4-0 Racing Santander

Simao Sabrosa scored his first goal in the colours of Atletico Madrid in his new side’s resounding win over Racing Santander at the Vicente Calderon.

Los Rojiblancos’ first win of the season was enough to lift them up into sixth place in La Liga, while Simao will have given his case for a regular starting berth a boost with his late strike after coming on as a substitute.

It was another summer recruit, Raul Garcia who signed from Osasuna, who opened the scoring for the home side, firing a low left-footed shot into the bottom corner on twelve minutes.

The Atleti fans would have to wait until a little over twenty minutes from time for their side to double the advantage, and it came shortly after referee Paradas Romero had sent off Racing’s Jordi for a quick pair of bookings midway through the second half.

Argentine wonderkid Sergio Aguero scored his side’s second, heading a Reyes free-kick past Tono, before summer signing Diego Forlan made it three when he latched on to an Aguero throughball and slid the ball past the Racing goalkeeper.

Maniche hits woodwork

Maniche struck the post with a shot from the edge of the area before Simao, who had been introduced on the hour mark, rounded off the win with ten minutes left on the clock.

The Portuguese winger’s clever run across his marker was brilliantly picked out by Luis Garcia, and Simao calmly passed the ball through Tono’s legs for his first goal back in Spanish football. Following the goal, Simao and his teammates made a supportive gesture to under pressure manager Javier Aguirre.

After the final whistle, the Mexican boss insisted that the match would prove the turning point for his side: “The public is always right, when they whistled us last Thursday and as well as when the applauded us today.”

“We have to stay the line and take things step-by-step. The public supported us from the first minute today. They’re leaving with joy and we hope to give them much more.

“We have players of great offensive capacity such as Maxi, Simao, Reyes, Forlan and Aguero. We can’t give up on attack when we’re winning with this potential. Today we made sure that Raul Garcia and Maniche were in their places, closer to the defence, and that helped us out. The truth is that I’m very happy.”

Atletico Madrid:
Leo Franco; Seitaridis, Pablo, Perea, Pernia; Raul Garcia, Maniche, Maxi (Simao, 60), Reyes (Luis Garcia, 75), Agüero (Mista, 85) and Forlan

Racing Santander:
Tono; Pinillos, Garay, Sergio Sanchez, Ayoze; Colsa (Jordi, 59), Duscher, Jorge Lopez (Smolarek, 60), Oscar Serrano; Munitis, Tchite (Bolado, 75)

Goals:
[1-0] Raul Garcia, 12
[2-0] Aguero, 69
[3-0] Forlan, 76
[4-0] Simao, 81