Osasuna, luck and the referee punish Valencia’s resignation from LaLiga

Osasuna took three points from Mestalla this Saturday that allow him to overtake Valencia in the fight to reach Europe and he did it in a clash in which the red team but also bad luck and some decisions of the referee ‘punished’ the resignation in the form of rotations of José Bordalás’ team to the League thinking about the Cup final.

A goal from Chimy Ávila from eleven meters after an involuntary hand by Dimitri Foulquier and a great header from Ante Budimir decided the clash although Carlos Soler also closed the gap from the penalty spot and the locals looked for a tie until the end.

The first half hour, with Carlos Soler, Thierry Correia and Alderete on the local bench, was a deadlock. The locals forced Sergio Herrero to work with two hard shots from Racic and Foulquier and the visitors came close to scoring after an uncontrolled exit from Diakhaby that facilitated a Chimy’s shot that after a rebound crashed into the post.

The only oasis in the first half was two crazy minutes from the rambunctious Bryan Gil. The winger chained a drive in the area that ended with a fall in which he asked for a penalty (which could have led to Torró’s expulsion) and a cross shot after falling into the hole that came out licking the post.

[+] Look at the summary and the goals of the match:

As soon as the second part begins, an away center inadvertently hit Foulquier’s hand and allowed Chimy to open the scoring from the penalty spot. Valencia came to equalize immediately but Guillamón’s shot was clearly with his hand. Gil also kept trying but with much more desire than success.

But Valencia’s complaints were not just due to luck. Melero López pointed out that Diakhaby’s foul was a clash with Herrera after a crazy exit by the goalkeeper, whose bad rejection Guedes had turned into a goal.

With Valencia pressing, a cross from the newly admitted Rubén García allowed the Croatian Budimir to score for the fourth day in a row. The match seemed decided but Rubén García’s excess of momentum and perhaps certain doubts of the referee in his previous decisions led him to whistle a penalty on Guedes that Carlos Soler converted.

The shock gained tension but the marker no longer moved. Osasuna looks to Europe, Valencia too but from the Cup.