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Sportinglife - Osasuna claimed a comprehensive
victory over stuttering Deportivo La Coruna thanks to a virtuoso display
from youngster Roberto Soldado.
The 21-year-old terrorised the visiting defence, scoring Osasuna's first and
third goals as the struggling Pamplona outfit put on a show for their home
fans.
In between Juan Rodriguez put Deportivo back in the game after Valmiro Valdo
made it 2-0, but it was the hosts who made a thoroughly deserved three
points safe with a stoppage-time strike from Savo Milosevic.
Osasuna stormed out of the traps and it was no surprise when they took the
lead after just five minutes.
Valdo had already tried his luck from range when Soldado put the hosts
ahead.
Milosevic's header found the young forward on the edge of the box and he
unleashed a volley into the top right-hand corner of the net.
Soldado rained in shots on the Deportivo goal, first forcing Dudu Aouate to
save with a header and fired wide from 18 yards, and then earned the corner
which eventually led to Osasuna's second.
His close-range effort was turned wide by Aouate, but Francisco Punal picked
out Valdo with his corner, who nodded home.
Filipe fired wide for Deportivo after 29 minutes by way of a warning and
within a minute they were level.
The Brazilian-born defender sent in a free-kick after Valdo fouled Segio
Gonzalez, and Rodriguez converted from six yards.
On-loan Real Madrid star Soldado again got in on the action after 34 minutes
- his overhead kick was held by Israel stopper Aouate.
And two minutes later Valdo's drilled effort was blocked by Manuel Pablo.
The hosts continue to dominate and only Antonio Barragan for the visitors
found a sight of goal, but his strike late in the half was blocked by
Enrique Corrales.
Deportivo started the second half with more purpose and five minutes after
the restart Fabian Estoyanoff drew a save from Ricardo in the Osasuna goal
from the edge of the penalty area.
But Osasuna deservedly extended their lead after 59 minutes and, inevitably,
it was all down to Soldado.
Winning back possession, he picked up the ball 25 yards from goal and
unleashed a piledriver towards Aouate's goal leaving him with absolutely no
chance as it flew into the top corner.
The goal more or less killed off Deportivo, who never looked like getting
back into the game.
Estoyanoff came closest after 68 minutes, but his long-range strike was held
by Ricardo.
Osasuna were happy to play keep-ball as they cruised towards their third win
of the season, and it wasn't until the 89th minute they worked another
attempt on goal, but Alvaro Arbeloa put himself in the way of Javad
Nekounam's effort.
A fourth goal did come, though, and it was a fine 20-yard angled strike from
Milosevic which rounded off an emphatic display from the hosts.
The result lifts Osasuna out of the bottom three and, on this performance,
it is hard to see them falling that low again.
But Deportivo's miserable run is starting to reach worrying proportions -
they are now without a win in their last six matches.
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