Rayo grab slender lead over Strasbourg in Conference League semi

Brazilian striker Alemao glanced in the only goal to give Rayo Vallecano a precious 1-0 lead in the UEFA Conference League semi-final first leg against visiting Strasbourg on Thursday.

In a meeting between two teams seeking to reach a first European final, Alemao rose at the near post in the 54th minute to meet a Unai Lopez corner. He missed the ball with his head but it hit his right shoulder and lobbed in to the far corner of the net.

In an energetic but scrappy match in which the hosts collected four yellow cards and the visitors five, the visitors started strongly.

Roared on by a raucous crowd at their 15,000-capacity Vallecas Stadium in Madrid, the hosts wrested away control. They managed 24 strikes at goal compared to the French club's total of five.