Osasuna 2 : 1 Granada CF - Quickfire strikes keep Osasuna in Euro mix

Posted Sunday, February 26, 2012 by PA

Javad Nekounam and Dejan Lekic scored twice in three first-half minutes as Osasuna kept up their European challenge with a narrow 2-1 Primera Division victory over Granada.

Nekounam and Lekic pounced in the 26th and 29th minutes and, although Mikel Rico pulled one back just a minute later, the hosts prevailed.

Defeat brought to a halt Granada's recent improvement under Abel Resino while for Osasuna they kept up the pressure for the European places.

Granada almost made the ideal start in the seventh minute when Jorge Carlos Martins hit the bar with a shot from distance.

Visiting goalkeeper Roberto Fernandez was called upon to punch clear Francisco Punal's left-wing cross before Osasuna's Lekic shot wide from close range in a lively opening to the game.

Andres Fernandez was proving to be a rock in the Osasuna goal, blocking a number of shots before team-mate Nekounam put the hosts ahead in the 26th minute.

Alvaro Cejudo pulled back the ball from the left byline to find Nekounam in the six-yard box, the midfielder heading home.

The hosts doubled their lead three minutes later and again Cejudo was the provider, his corner slotted into the bottom-left corner from close range by Lekic.

However, Granada halved the deficit only a minute later, Mikel Rico drilling a 25-yard shot into the top-right corner.

Roland Lamah came within inches of restoring Osasuna's two-goal advantage when his shot hit the bar before a breathless first half came to an end.

It was unlikely the match could remain at the same tempo and so it proved.

Cejudo shot over before Ibra Balde twice failed to find the target inside the six-yard box.

Diego Mainz also shot over from close range for Granada with time running out, but the visitors could not find the equalising goal.