By Sam Hooley, Reporter, LaLigaNews
Real Valladolid 1-3 Osasuna
Real Valladolid: Ruben (OG) 11′.
Osasuna: Sola 50′, 60′, De las Cuevas 69′.
Kike Sola scored two goals on his return to action as Osasuna came from behind to beat Valladolid 3-1, giving a huge boost to their survival hopes.
Top-scorer Sola missed last week’s 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid, but was back with a bang this week, scoring two headers to lift the Pamplona team into 15thplace in La Liga.
Osasuna got off to a terrible start, after a calamitous own-goal gave the hosts an early lead. A cross from the left hand side in the 11th minute was a straight forward one for goalkeeper Andres Fernandez, but team-mate Ruben went for the ball and headed it into his own net.
The visiters responded well to going behind, but left themselves open at the back, inviting more pressure from Valladolid. Fernandez did well to stop efforts from Oscar and Manucho, and another Osasuna player Alejandro Arribas came close to doubling Valladolid’s lead by nearly scored the second own goal of the game.
But Osasuna themselves squandered a great chance to equalise on the stroke of half-time, when Nino found himself one-on-one with Valladolid keeper Dani Hernadez, but shot straight at the Venezuelan international.
Valladolid came close straight after the restart, but Alberto Bueno couldn’t quite get on the end of a cross.
Minutes later, Osasuna were level with another defensive mistake. Hernandez spilled De Las Cuevas’ shot, which was snapped up by Kike Sola, who headed home from 6 yards for his 8th goal of the season.
Sola was on the score sheet 10 minutes later, when a delivery from a corner was punched away by Hernandez, but headed back into the mixer from Francisco Silva. Sola with his back to goal was there to head past the stranded keeper to make it 2-1 to the visitors.
Osasuna sealed the points on 69 minutes, when De Las Cuevas robbed the ball on the halfway line, and ran through unchallenged before coolly slotting the ball past Hernandez.
Jose Mendilibar’s side could have scored more goals in the late stages, but the score remained 3-1, giving Osasuna just their third victory away from home all season, and putting them seven points clear of the relegation zone.
The defeat leaves Valladolid 11 points clear of the drop zone, but Miroslav Duckic’s men will be looking over their shoulders, as they haven’t won at home for over two months, which will be concerning for the 13th placed side.
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