Depor beats Valencia to win Super Cup

VALENCIA, Spain (AP) -- Midfielder Victor Sanchez helped Deportivo de La Coruna lift the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday as the Copa del Rey winner beat 10-man Valencia 1-0 to win the two-leg series 4-0 on aggregate.

Sanchez, who also scored in the first game, chipped over goalkeeper Santiago Canizares seconds before the final whistle to win the second leg at the Mestalla stadium.

League titlist Valencia, which had Argentine international defender Roberto Ayala sent off in the third minute of an ill-tempered match, never looked likely to prevent Deportivo from securing the first silverware of Spain's new season.

With bad feelings between the two clubs running high since Canizares was hit by a projectile thrown from the crowd at the end of last week's first leg, Deportivo was given a rough reception by the home crowd.

The match then began in explosive fashion when Ayala received his marching orders for elbowing Dutch striker Roy Makaay in the head as the pair jumped for a high ball.

Makaay enjoyed the clearest of few chances before the interval but his eighth-minute shot was blocked by Canizares.

With the hostility continuing through the first half, Valencia appeared fortunate not to lose a second player in the 31st minute when Brazilian left back Fabio Aurelio was cautioned after scything down international midfielder Juan Carlos Valeron.

The home side battled hard but was restricted to long-range shooting while Canizares came to his side's rescue just before halftime when he parried a low shot by Sanchez.

Valencia striker Salva Ballesta headed wide from a narrow angle in the 57th minute and international midfielder Vicente Rodriguez had a shot saved by Depor goalkeeper Paco Molina two minutes later as Valencia strove in vain to secure a victory on the night.

Shortly afterward, the two sets of players staged an angry clash after Argentine striker Pablo Aimar had headed the ball out of Molina's hands.

The Super Cup was first competed for in 1982. Real Madrid has won the trophy a record six times, while Deportivo now has three wins and Valencia one.

Celta sign Jose Ignacio from relegated Zaragoza

VIGO, Spain (Reuters) -- Spanish midfielder Jose Ignacio has signed a four-year deal with Celta Vigo, the Spanish first division club said on Sunday.

Celta did not reveal the details of the transfer deal for the 28-year-old, who was part of the Real Zaragoza side that was relegated from the top flight at the end of last season.

"I hope things go really well and that I can help the club win a title this season," the midfielder was quoted as saying on the club's Web site.

Jose Ignacio, who began his career at Logrones, played for Valencia for three years before switching to Zaragoza in 1997. He won two international caps for Spain last year.

His new club Celta finished fifth in the Spanish first division last season to earn a place in the UEFA Cup for the fifth year in succession.