Deportivo La Coruna's European hopes suffered a blow on Wednesday as it fell to a demoralising late defeat at Sporting Gijon.
Depor, which started the day just four points off the Champions League places, looked set to claim a point, despite playing since the 11th minute with a man less following the sending off of goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia.
However, Depor conceded a controversial injury-time penalty when Alberto Lopo was adjudged to have brought down Kike Mateo inside the area.
Lopo claimed he had got the ball but was instead shown a red card and from the resulting spot-kick Sporting captain Diego Castro fired past Depor replacement keeper Manu Fernandez.
Adrian Lopez's equaliser had earlier cancelled out Mate Bilic's opener for the hosts, who moved 12 points clear of the drop zone.
Depor, who also had their coach Miguel Angel Lotina sent to the stands during the second half, must now hope their European rivals do not capitalise on this slip over the next two days.
Depor made the trip along the north coast of Spain looking for their first away win in La Liga since November, but they could barely have suffered a worst start as they lost Aranzubia early on.
Aranzubia was handed his marching orders in the 11th minute after bringing down Bilic just outside the area after the Sporting man had pounced on a poor back-pass by Depor captain Manuel Pablo.
Bilic got up after hitting the turf and his resulting shot with the goal gaping hit the far post, but the referee blew up for the initial foul and sent off Aranzubia.
Sporting wasted the free-kick, but they needed just 19 minutes to make the most of their numerical advantage when Bilic fired home his fifth of the season from close range.
A cross from the right found Miguel de las Cuevas and, although he failed to bundle his way through a group of Depor defenders, the ball fell kindly for Bilic who stabbed home from close range.
Sporting had chances to increase their lead, but Castro sent a glancing header just wide and De las Cuevas fired straight at Manu.
The longer the match went on without Sporting extending their lead, the more Depor gained in confidence and they almost drew level in the 61st minute.
Lopez's shot at the far post was parried by Juan Pablo Colinas but only as far as Juan Dominguez on the six-yard line, however the former Malaga man put the ball inches wide after spinning to get his shot away.
Sporting failed to heed that warning though as five minutes later Depor drew level.
A long ball over the top by Dominguez was latched onto by Adrian and he drilled a low shot past Juan Pablo from just inside the area.
Both sides had chances to add to the scoreline in the closing stages, with De Las Cuevas, Arnolin Gregory and Bilic going close for Sporting and Rodriguez and Sanabria Laure doing likewise for Depor.
The game looked destined to finish level, but there was to be a late twist as Lopo slid in to try and deny Meteo a shooting chance and ended up conceding a harsh-looking penalty.
He was sent off and Castro won the game for his side from the spot.