Valencia 1-0 Espanyol: Nikola Zigic Heads Los Che To Victory With Late Goal

Valencia and Espanyol were looking to kick-off the new calendar year on a positive note after a disappointing finish to 2009. And with their batteries recharged after the Christmas break, both teams made a spirited start, although Nikola Zigic’s winning goal didn’t come until the very end.

Joaquin looked particularly lively down the right flank in the opening exchanges, as he whipped in a few dangerous crosses early on. Miguel was one of those who almost benefited from the winger’s industrious efforts as he connected with a low cross on 14 minutes, but miscued his shot from close range.

David Villa then tried his luck down that same flank when he skipped into the box and fired in a fierce drive from a tight angle which smacked into the side netting. On 20 minutes, youngster Jordi Alba, making his first start in La Liga, almost netted his first ever goal for Los Che when he charged down the left channel into the box but with only Carlos Kameni to beat, he scuffed his shot and the ball trickled harmlessly to the Cameroonian goalkeeper.

Espanyol had their first real chance of the game on 25 minutes when Javi Marquez swung in a free kick from 20 yards out but despite an awkward bounce right in front of goal, Cesar was able to gather it comfortably.

The Catalans began to grow in confidence and on the half hour mark, Marquez again tested Cesar when he was allowed to roam forward unchallenged, before rifling in a shot on the edge of the box which the Che shot-stopper managed to parry away.

Villa then had two chances in quick succession right on the stroke of half-time. First, he rattled in a blistering drive on the turn from 25 yards out, but his attempt sailed straight into Kameni’s arms and the outcome was exactly the same moments later with a free kick from a similar distance.

Both sides continued to create half-chances at the start of the second period but on 53 minutes, Valencia came alive. Villa carved open the Espanyol backline and nutmegged two defenders inside the box, but his low shot was denied by a Kameni kick-save. Two minutes later, ‘El Guaje’ was left in disbelief again when he ran onto Joaquin’s through ball but his searing shot from a tight angle was kept out by Kameni’s trailing boot. David Albelda then tried to beat the Blanc-i-Blau shot-stopper with a 25-yard half volley, but the Cameroonian easily patted the ball down before gathering it safely.

Facundo Roncaglia had the best chance for the visitors after the restart when he won possession in his own half and marauded forward into the Valencia box, but he dragged his eventually shot agonisingly wide with Cesar well beaten.

Frustration started to set in on the pitch and in the stands at the Mestalla as Unai Emery’s troops struggled to crack open the Espanyol rearguard. And they were almost severely punished with 15 minutes to go when a mix-up at the back allowed Luis Garcia a clear shot at goal, but he decided to round Cesar and eventually ran out of space before finally pulling the trigger but his effort was blocked by Alexis.

Valencia responded immediately and Villa should have put his side in front in the 77th minute when he met Mata’s cross, but he could only thump his header against the post. The home side continued to pile on the pressure upfront until the final whistle and their persistence paid off two minutes into injury time when Joaquin’s pin-point cross found Nikola Zigic and the Serb easily outjumped a swarm of defenders to head the ball into the top corner, leaving Kameni with no chance.

The victory ended Valencia’s two-game winless run which marred their conclusion of 2009 and the hard-earned three points has sent them temporarily up to third place.

KS Leong, Goal.com