Madrid, June 8 (IANS): Sporting Gijon were promoted to the La Liga on a dramatic last day of the regular season in the Spanish Liga Adelante (second division) in which promotion was decided in the last two minutes of the campaign.

Sporting won 3-0 away to already-promoted Real Betis on Sunday, but needed Girona to fail to win at home to Lugo who had nothing to play for, reports Xinhua.

A goal from defender Fran Sandaza towards the end of the first half had given Girona a 1-0 lead at home to Lugo which had looked set to take them into the top-flight.

However, an equalising goal in injury time from Lugo shattered Girona's dreams of a first ever season in the La Liga, although there was still time for the Catalan side to have a goal ruled out for offside before the final whistle, which provoked ugly scenes from the stands.

That saw the game suspended for half an hour before the two sides returned to play the last 40 seconds, in which Girona were unable to score the goal they needed.

Sporting return to the top flight after being relegated in 2012 from La Liga, while Girona will now face Real Zaragoza in the semi-finals of the playoffs for the final promotion place, while Valladolid take on Las Palmas.

Meanwhile Barcelona B, Sabadell, Recreativo Huelva and Racing Santander were relegated to the third tier of the Spanish game.