Osasuna strike back for much-needed win

Posted Sunday, May 08, 2011 by PA

Osasuna came from behind to hurtle out of the Primera Division relegation zone with a 3-1 victory at Real Zaragoza.

Manuel Lolo's mistake gifted an opener to Real Zaragoza's Angel Lafita and it seemed a matter of when and how often the visitors' consistently porous defence would be breached again.

But home keeper Toni Doblas failed to keep out Javier Camunas' effort and the resulting equaliser sparked a turnaround, with Sergio Fernandez and Kike Sola clinching a vital victory.

Ikechukwu Uche saw an early header from Ander Herrera's corner blocked by Lolo - but the same defender was at fault for the opener in the 14th minute.

The centre-half headed a long ball from Zaragoza left-back Javier Paredes waywardly into the path of Lafita, who calmly stroked the ball first-time past keeper Ricardo from just outside the box.

Kike Sola and Alvaro Cejudo shot over as Osasuna vainly sought an equaliser, before Lolo was given the chance to atone for his howler but headed Cejudo's free-kick wide.

More farcical Osasuna defending led to two good opportunities for Uche as half-time approached.

The first saw the forward seize on Marcos Nelson's wild mishit but his shot was turned around the near post by the chest or shoulder of Ricardo.

Javad Nekounam headed Cejudo's corner over at the other end before Lafita's through-ball gave Uche a perfect chance to double the lead.

He raced clear after left-back Nacho Monreal stumbled and fell, but after turning inside Sergio the striker failed to connect properly with his left-footed finish.

Osasuna's calamitous defending continued after the interval, with errors from the slapdash Lolo and Nekounam leading to two opportunities for the home team.

Uche teed up Gabi for the first chance but the midfielder sliced a woeful effort in the direction of the touchline, while the second move ended with Nicolas Bertolo shooting over.

Against the run of play, though, the visitors levelled in the 62nd minute.

Javier Camunas exchanged passes with Cejudo and his low left-footed shot from 20 yards slipped through the legs of Paulo Da Silva, taking a slight deflection en route, and under Doblas' weak attempt to save.

Sergio gave Osasuna the lead eight minutes later when Cejudo swung a free-kick beyond the far post and Jiri Jarosik was caught hopelessly under the ball, allowing the centre-half to loop a header inside the far post from a narrow angle.

Zaragoza embarked on a push for an equaliser and Bertolo's low shot bounced against the post and away to safety before Ander's cross narrowly eluded Jarosik.

The latter's switch up front led to disorder in the home defence, though, and they were to pay the price soon afterwards.

Kike Sola was clearly offside when Francisco Punal sprayed the ball crossfield, but Paredes was playing everybody else onside and Camunas capitalised, crossing for Kike Sola to tap home.

Lafita's late free-kick was held by Ricardo to end the threat of an equaliser and Osasuna jumped four places to 14th in the league, Deportivo La Coruna slipping into the drop zone with Zaragoza ahead of them only on head-to-head record.