Jose Luis Morales scores twice as Levante hold off Las Palmas

Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images

---

Basement boys Levante grabbed a Primera Division lifeline by beating fellow strugglers Las Palmas 3-2 at Ciutat de Valencia.

With new signing Giuseppe Rossi watching on before making a late cameo, winger Jose Luis Morales scored in each half and Deyverson -- sent off at the death -- notched Levante's third.

Eighteenth-placed Las Palmas kept it interesting by twice slashing the deficit through Willian Jose.

A second victory in three games means Rubi's Levante are now two points behind Rayo Vallecano and safety.

Morales opened the scoring in the 25th minute as Javi Varas failed to clear his lines and Deyverson made it 2-0 with a powerful conversion of Jefferson Lerma's cross two minutes after the break.

Moments later, Las Palmas responded through Willian Jose, the former Real Madrid striker getting the better of Levante goalkeeper Diego Marino when receiving David Simon's pass.

Deyverson turned provider for the hosts' third goal on 63 minutes. A clever one-two between the Brazilian and Morales enabled the latter to outwit Varas for the second time in the match.

Three minutes later Willian Jose kept things interesting by completing his own brace.

Italian striker Rossi -- recruited from Fiorentina this week -- made his debut from the bench with 15 minutes remaining but could not mark his maiden appearance for Levante with a goal.

The late drama saw Deyverson dismissed for picking up a second yellow. Las Palmas had no time to exploit their advantage and slumped to a 21st defeat of the season.