Summary Colombia striker's 10th goal pulled him level with Lionel Messi as league's third-leading scorers
BARCELONA, Spain: (AP) - Carlos Bacca scored early to help secure Sevilla s 1-0 win at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday as the Andalusian side tightened its hold on fourth place in the Spanish league.
Bacca took advantage of Cristian Alvarez s hesitation to head a lobbed pass over the goalkeeper and then used his feet to roll the ball into an empty net in the eighth minute. The Colombia striker s 10th goal pulled him level with Lionel Messi as the league s third-leading scorers, far behind Cristiano Ronaldo s runaway tally of 23 goals.
"We strikers let our goals do the talking," said Bacca. "In the opening minutes we pressed them well and found the goal that gave us the victory."
Rayo sent on attacking players but never went closer than substitute Manucho s header over the bar with five minutes left.
Sevilla finished with 10 men after defender Daniel Carrico was sent off in the 88th.
Sevilla opened a five-point gap over Valencia in their fight for Spain s final Champions League spot before Valencia visited Granada later.
Rayo was left in 10th place.
Also later, Barcelona hosted Espanyol, and Real Sociedad visited Villarreal.
