A dull first half was followed by a scintillating second as Real Betis went fourth in La Liga with a thrilling 4-2 win at Getafe.
Getafe started well, Betis 'keeper Adrian Castillo forced to make good saves from a Pedro Leon screamer and an Alexis header. Leon fired into the sidenetting just after the half hour when a cross was perhaps the wiser manoeuvre.
Leon did square the ball five minutes into the second half but probably regretted it as Alvaro Vazquez scuffed wide with the goal at his mercy.
And the Azulones were made to pay for their profligacy when Betis broke up field and opened the scoring, Ruben Castro rolling across for Jorge Molina to tap into an empty net. Molina had come off the bench scarcely a minute earlier.
Getafe replied in the 67th minute when another substitute, Paco Alcacer, cleverly flicked a long pass past the stranded Castillo, allowing Diego Castro to net from close range.
However Betis' star man swung things in their direction once more, Benat Extebarria swerving a spectacular free kick into the top corner from a sharp angle on the left.
The Verdiblancos then made it 3-1 with their second goal in the space of two minutes, Ruben Castro crashing in a low finish at the end of another quick counter attack.
Leon atoned for his earlier errors and ensured a nervy finale with a sidefoot finish from Diego Castro's chipped pass in the 89th minute.
But in the 94th minute the hosts were caught with everyone expect the goalkeeper up field and Salva Sevilla strode the length of the pitch before beating Miguel Angel Moya with a composed finish.
