Valencia (Spain), Oct 1 (IANS): In a great first half, in which it played its best football of the season, Levante cruised to a 2-1 victory over Alaves, which only managed to control the flow of the game in the final minutes when they desperately tried to secure a draw.

In a new set-up, Levante's Paco Lopez decided to play with three centre-men, a move that provided security for the team and only appeared threatened very late in the match on Sunday, reports Efe.

The visitors got on the board first at Valencia's Ciutat Stadium before some 20,000 fans, with Sobrino knocking in a powerful header just five minutes into play.

But from then on, it was practically all Levante as it rolled over Alaves throughout the entire first half, manufacturing a number of scoring opportunities, of which it was able to capitalize on two.

First, it was Jason, scoring on a perfect header in the 19th minute on a great centering pass from Rochina, and then - with Alaves simply unable to get anything going against the Levante onslaught - it was Toño who blasted another one in in the 37th minute.

After the break, Alaves showed a little more life, but Levante counterattacked, although neither team was able to get on the board.

Alaves controlled the ball longer than the home squad, but couldn't seem to get down to their rivals' goal. And as the minutes ticked away the visitors became increasingly desperate.

Ibai finally managed to fire a futile shot in the 80th minute, the first shot on goal by Alaves since their goal 75 minutes earlier.