Osasuna 0 : 1 Levante - Levante leave it late

Posted Sunday, September 29, 2013 by PA

Osasuna's ill-discipline kept them rooted to the foot of the Primera Division table as Levante stole a 1-0 victory with a late Jordi Xumetra goal.

Xumetra was quickest to react after Papakouli Diop's 87th-minute penalty was saved by Andres Fernandez and Osasuna's day got worse when substitute Alvaro Cejudo was handed a second caution in injury time.

It was the seventh yellow card of the game for Osasuna, who had dominated for large periods only for their failure to convert any of their chances and then ill-discipline to cost them.

Jordan Loties gave away the crucial penalty when he fouled Ruben Garcia in the area before Xumetra eventually converted to ensure Levante remained unbeaten since the opening weekend.

Oriol Riera was initially at fault for Osasuna's poor finishing as he first headed wide from six yards before miscuing with his left foot when well placed.

Riera at least forced Levante goalkeeper Keylor Navas to tip over his 15th-minute header and the Coast Rica international was forced to concede another corner when Miguel De las Cuevas hit a 20-yard drive.

Emiliano Armenteros was next to be denied by Navas at close quarters.

Defender Loukas Vyntra headed Levante's first chance wide from six yards before Osasuna were back to spurning their own chances again - Riera and Armenteros both failing to work Navas.

It was more of the same after half-time as Loties was unable to keep a header down before seeing Navas block when he did get a shot on target soon after.

Levante started to show some sign they could steal away the points with Junior Simao twice going close.

Osasuna's frustrations started to grow as Gonzalez Sisi ad Alejandro Arribas followed Francisco Punal and Francisco Silva into the referee's book.

Loties then joined them when he felled Ruben in the area and while Fernandez made a fantastic save to keep out his powerful spot-kick Xumetra raced in to convert.

Cejudo, who had only been on for 10 minutes, ensured a miserable end for Osasuna as he earned a second yellow in quick time when he fouled Juanfran.