Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 7y

Atletico subs, Kevin Gameiro hat trick changed the game - Simeone

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone said the impact of substitute Kevin Gameiro had changed the game after the Frenchman's quickfire hat trick saw his team to a 4-1 win at Sporting Gijon in La Liga.

After an uneventful first half against the relegation strugglers, Atletico winger Yannick Carrasco scored just 13 seconds after the break, but the home side equalised within three minutes when Sergio Alvarez was able to fire home from 12 yards.

The game appeared to be headed for a draw before substitute Gameiro took an Antoine Griezmann pass and calmly rounded Sporting goalkeeper Ivan Cuellar and knocked to the net. With Sporting reeling Gameiro was twice more sent behind the scrambling home defence and both times finished sharply to bag a five-minute hat trick.

The Colchoneros coach told his postmatch news conference that his sending on of Saul Niguez and Thomas Partey to strengthen the midfield, along with Gameiro's speed up top, had settled the encounter.

"In the first half, both teams had chances," Simeone said. "In the second half, we got ahead quickly, but Sporting hurt us shortly after. The changes made us very strong in the midfield. Gameiro's speed ended up breaking the match. I am very happy for him as it is not easy to score three goals like that, and they were very important for the team."

With Sporting looking more likely to score through the second half, Simeone had withdrawn attackers Angel Correa and Carrasco for more physical midfielders Saul and Thomas to try and muscle way back into game. He said that -- just like in the 3-2 comeback win at home to Celta Vigo last weekend -- his team had found a way to turn things their way.

"We are very happy," he said. "Once again the team kept calm and were able to win the game in the final minutes, as happened against Celta, playing good football. The entrance of Thomas and Saul made us more comfortable in the game."

Atletico's win kept them close behind La Liga's leading three Real Madrid, Barcelona and Sevilla -- and was only their second victory in their last eight visits to Gijon.

"I did not expect anything different," Simeone said. "This is a stadium where we have always found it very difficult to win."

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