Mata Goal Edges It For Valencia

Claud · Sep 21, 2008

Valencia 1-0 Osasuna

Juan Mata netted a winning goal for Valencia midway through the second half in a game that they looked set to be frustrated by a well-organised Osasuna side until César Azpilicueta was sent off.

The only goal was a fine effort when it came, but the visitors to Mestalla will feel hard done by after doing enough to earn a share of the spoils only for a careless moment to undo everything.

Azpilicueta will have some apologising to do for leaving his side with ten players after he needlessly earned a second yellow card and that proved to be too much as Valencia pressed forward.

Osasuna may have been expected to go to Mestalla and defend in numbers, but instead Cuco Ziganda chose to send out his side to take on their hosts by going forward.

It was a tactic that Valencia may not have been expecting as they failed to match the fervour in the stands with a performance to excite the fans on it.

Manuel Fernandes and Edu partnered each other in the centre of midfield after Rubén Baraja was ruled out for longer than expected this week and the dup were not strong enough together.

Down the flanks Mata and Joaquin were denied time and again by a very well organised Osasuna side that were able to push up themselves and as the game wore on it appeared that the away team could well snatch a victory.

The first real chance of the game fell to the visitors when Jaroslav Plašil escaped down the left of the area before cutting the ball back for Héctor Font, but his shot hit Javier Portillo in the face and flew over.

While no one Osasuna player stood out, as a team they worked hard as a unit and showed that they will not be struggling against the drop like last term with a few more display like this.

Valencia will also certainly not be concerned by the bottom three, but they will need to be a lot more creative and fluid if they want to open up better teams than there opponents were in this game.

Mata did go clise as half time approached when he edged forward before aiming for the far corner, but his shot flew wide and soon after Morientes should have connected with a low centre from Villa.

Chances were few and far between in the opening exchanges after the break and that lack of excitement meant that the crowd's enthusiasm was also dimmed.

That was until the 63rd minute when Azpilizueta chased Mata into the corner and lunged in to earn his second yellow card and then a red and, no doubt, a few words from his coach for the needless challenge.

Portillo was withdrawn and Osasuna were expected to sit back, but they actually came closest to scoring during a brief purple patch that saw Masoud nod the ball goalwards, only for Renan to tip it over.

With ten minutes left Mata fired a warning shot when he hit the post and as that was not heeded the forward did not waste his next chance when he was picked out with a high ball by Villa.

Mata watched it dip over the defence and caught his shot on the volley to finally make the break through and send the home supporters into raptures.

Osasuna may feel slightly frustrated that all their hard work was undone so late in the game, but Valencia will be pleased with the three points and another week to raise their game even more.
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Mata Goal Edges It For Valencia

Claud Legendary

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Mata Goal Edges It For Valencia

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