Tale of two penalties secures historic win for Osasuna
It had been 40 years since Osasuna last started a La Liga campaign with back-to-back victories, but the hosts began their clash with Cádiz on top and were rewarded with a HT advantage. Breaking in behind the visitors’ defence, Ante Budimir was hacked down by Cádiz goalkeeper Jeremias Ledesma, leaving referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz little choice but to point to the spot.
A debatable penalty helped Osasuna to an opening day victory over Sevilla, and while there was little doubt about the decision this time, the outcome was the same. Ezequiel Ávila was the man to give the hosts the lead, with Osasuna’s number-nine sending his right-footed penalty into the roof of the Cádiz goal.
Not only had Osasuna gone four decades without consecutive La Liga victories at the start of the campaign, they’d also failed to win their first two home games in the top flight each attempt since 2005/06. Burdened by the weight of history, the hosts almost saw their lead surrendered two minutes into the second half, when an unmarked Lucas Pérez put wide in front of an empty net from two yards out.
Just when it looked as if Cádiz would mount a challenge late on, three minutes of madness would cost the visitors their chances. Firstly a red card, with a clumsy challenge from Tomás Alarcón would earn the midfielder his second yellow card of the evening. Going from bad to worse for Cádiz, referee Lahoz would once again point to the spot two minutes later, when Víctor Chust bundled Kike García down inside the penalty area. Stepping up to take the penalty, the substitute striker stroked his right-footed effort into the bottom corner to secure Osasuna all three points.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Aimar Oroz (Osasuna)