MADRID, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Deportivo Alaves clinched the final promotion spot to La Liga in dramatic fashion late on Saturday night to join Granada and Las Palmas in Spain's top-flight next season.
Alaves beat Levante 1-0 away from home in the return leg of the play-off final to earn promotion for the team from the northern city of Vitoria after the first leg had ended 0-0.
Asier Villalibre kept his nerve to send Levante keeper Joan Femenias the wrong way and score a penalty given for handball committed by Levante defender Robert Pier in injury time at the end of 30 minutes of extra time.
The striker on loan at Alaves from Athletic Bilbao took the 129th minute spot-kick knowing that if he missed Levante would have been promoted, because the rules in Spain say that if a play-off is level after extra time, the side that finished highest in the league is promoted. Levante had finished the regular season in third place in the Spanish second division, with Alaves fourth.
"That is football today, the draw no good to us and if we had drawn, we'd have gone home sad, because we deserved to win," said Alaves coach Luis Garcia Plaza, who has also coached Levante in his long career.
"I have maximum respect for Levante, but I am really happy for Alaves, Vitoria and our support," added the coach. ■
