Carlos Vela Plays 76 Minutes – Osasuna 2-0 Getafe

On loan Arsenal forward Carlos Vela started on the left wing in Osasuna’s important win against Getafe CF in the evening kick off at the Coliseum Alfonso Alvarez.

Carlos recently returned  from a thigh injury and put in a decent performance this evening before he was substituted for Spanish Midfielder Hector Font on 76 minutes.

10’000 visitors turned up to the stadium to watch a battle of two teams, who wanted to win this match for different reasons.

With the three deserved away points against Getafe, it means Jose Angel Ziganda’s side have taken a huge step to staying in La Liga.

The game started brightly, and Osasuna had the first chance as Carlos Vela drilled a left footed effort from outside the box, but the ball was saved by Getafe goalkeeper Abbondanzieri. Just 8 minutes gone as the Osasunistas had the next opportunity as Jaroslav Plasil fired a right footer from the centre of the box, but the ball missed the right corner.

After 15 minutes right winger Juanfran should have put the visitors in front as he sent a right footed effort on goal, but the ball was blocked by Getafe’s defense.

In the next 20 minutes the game was flooded with fouls and injurys, before Osasuna had the next chance as Francisco Juanfran sent a right footed effort from the edge of the area on goal, but the ball was saved again by Abbondanzieri.

With 36 minutes the hosts had their first chance as Esteban Granero’s left footed shot from long range was saved by Osasuna goalkeeper Ricardo in the bottom right corner. Then Martin Astudillo tried to play a trough ball to Carlos Vela, but he was caught offside.

But the away side should get their lead with a set piece situation as Francisco Punal delivered with a cross for Miguel Flano and he headed the ball from inside the box into the left corner. 1-0

One minute later Carlos Vela won a free kick in good position but the free kick brought nothing countable.

With a halftime score of 0:1 for the Pamplona outfit went both teams back into the changing rooms at the Coliseum Alfonso Alvarez.

The first 10 minutes after halftime were uneventful with many fouls before the home side had after 56 minutes the next opportunity as a header from Ikechukwu Uche missed the right corner following a set piece situation.

65 minutes gone and Carlos Vela was booked for a foul on Juan Angel Albín by referee Perez Lasa.

Jose Angel Ziganda made the first substitution a minute later as Kike Sola was replaced by Cape Verde striker Eduardo Dady and he would get a key role in the next situation as he was fouled by Fabio Celestini in the penalty area. The following penalty was converted by Francisco Punal with a right footed effort into the net.

76 minutes gone and the match was over for Carlos Vela as he was replaced by his teammate Hector Font. The return of Vela was very crucial for the Pamplona side because his ability and movements on the left wing are special and helps the team a lot. Furthermore his partnership in midfield with Juanfran and Plasil worked very well.

The Pamplona outfit had then the next opportunity as Cesar Azpilicueta fired a 35 yard right footed effort on goal but the ball was saved by Abbondanzieri. Martin Astudillo had then another chance to bring Osasuna 3:0 up as his right footed shot , assisted by Jaroslav Plasil, was saved by Abbondanzieri in the top right corner.

The last chance in the match fell to Michael Laudrup’s side as Esteban Granero’s free kick from outside the box was close, but missed the target and the Osasunistas had their three crucial away points.

Next up for Osasuna is a home match next Saturday against Recreativo Huelva without Carlos Vela because he is suspended after picking up five yellow card’s!!

Carlos Vela statement after the match:

“I know it was not my best match, but it was a hard match because Getafe is a big team, they circle the ball very well, but we could stop it and we went in front with the goal in the first half. In the second half we have killed the match with the penalty. We know that we have to fight to the maximum in each match to get the victory. I think that the team did a big match and has obtained the reward other days that had not obtained.

It was a difficult match for me because there were a lot of slips and the ball threw out . Finally we are very happy. Today I have seen the fifth yellow card card, so i cannot feature on next Saturday. It is again a very important match for us and I know we have enough players to replace me”.

Osasuna Lineup:

Ricardo, Azpilicueta, Cruchaga, Miguel Flano, Monreal, Astudillo, Punal, Juanfran (Enrique Coralles 90’+3), Plasil, Vela (Hector Font 76′), Kike Sola (Dady 66′)

Goals: 0:1 Miguel Flano 41′, 0:2 Francisco Punal 69′ (penalty)

Attendance: 10000

Article by – A.Zimmermann