Valencia thrash St Gallen

Federico Cartabia scored twice as Valencia thrashed St Gallen 5-1 in the Europa League tonight.

Four goals in the first 32 minutes helped Valencia to a comprehensive victory which moves them up to second in Group A.

The hosts stormed out of the blocks and peppered their opponents' goal with shots early on.

They took the lead after just 12 minutes when Paco Alcacer reacted quickest to tuck home the rebound after Pablo Piatti's fierce strike.

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Valencia doubled their lead shortly afterwards in slightly fortunate circumstances. Cartabia raced forward from midfield and unleashed a 30-yard drive which deflected off a defender and into the goal, with the goalkeeper wrong-footed.

Cartabia got his second of the game on the half-hour mark, firing the ball towards goal from the right and seeing squirm under the goalkeeper and into the net.

Two minutes later it was four, as Ricardo Costa found himself on hand to tap in from close range after Victor Ruiz's knock-down.

Daniel Parejo and Sergio Canales came close with a couple of curling efforts shortly after half time, before Parejo then struck the post with a free kick on 69 minutes.

The Spanish side were awarded another free kick moments later and this time Canales stepped up, whipping the ball over the wall and into the bottom corner.

St Gallen did manage a consolation goal in response when Stephane Nater scored from close range after a flick-on at the front post, but it did not make much difference in the end.