Rayo Vallecano 2 - Osasuna 1

Rayo: Keller; Mauro, Ballesteros, De Quintana, Alcázar; Iván Iglesias (Helder 46'), Poschner (Glaucio 80'), Quevedo, Michel; Bolo, Bolic (Luis Cembranos 46'). 4-4-2.
Osasuna: Nuno; Jusué, Vidakovic, Iban Pérez; Alfonso, Alex Fernández, Llorens; Palacios (Sabino 46'), Alfredo (Oscar Arpón 80'), Lekumberri (Gancedo 72'); Iván Rosado. 3-3-3-1.

Team changes: Rayo: Mauro, Ballesteros, Iván Iglesias, Bolic for Mingo, Ferreira, Glaucio, Helder / Osasuna: Jusué, Iban Pérez, Llorens, Palacios for Cruchaga, Mateo, Oscar Arpón, Armentano.

Goals:
1-0. 22. Quevedo. Shot across goal after defensive error which Jusué touched in.
1-1. 64. Alfonso. Header into roof of net after corner from right.
2-1. 91. Luis Cembranos. Bent free kick over defensive wall from outside of area.

An injury time free kick by Luis Cembranos gave Rayo Vallecano their first home victory since the beginning of December, dropping their opponents Osasuna back to the bottom of the first division. Juande Ramos has not included Luis in a starting line up since he returned recently from a serious injury which had kept him out for three months, but they needed his skills today against an orderly Osasuna who were unlucky not to come away with at least a point. Ballesteros returned from suspension for Rayo, but with Mingo injured and no other left back available, Alcázar switched sides and Mauro came in as makeshift right back. Their defence was not so makeshift as Osasuna's though, and with Yanguas still injured and Mateo and Cruchage both suspended, Olympic silver medallist Jusué came in for his first match of the season. Llorens returned to the ground where he made his name to whistles from the crowd, although the other ex Rayo player, on-loan Iván Rosado received better treatment from the fans.

Jusué's first division debut was marred though by the opening goal, the youngster turning Quevedo's shot past his own keeper in a failed attempted clearance halfway through the first half. However the visitors should have scored later on, with Alfredo wasting the best chance of the half heading wide with the goal at his mercy. Lotina brought on Sabino at the break for Palacios and the Pamplona based side took control of the game, even more so when Iturralde González sent off De Quintana for a second bookable offence. Alfonso eventually got the goal Osasuna deserved with a powerful header straight from a corner, and a few minutes later the referee awarded a penalty for a foul by Mauro. Iván Rosado picked himself up and asked to take the kick, but nerves got the better of him in front of his old crowd and he placed his shot wide. And then up stepped Cembranos to break their supporters' hearts. Osasuna went home empty handed, and Rayo move back into contention for the UEFA spots, now in seventh place three points behind Villarreal and Mallorca. As they say here, ¡fútbol es así!