Sunday 4th January 2009
Venue: Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan
Kick-off: 18:00
Score: 1 – 1
Sevilla’s hopes of regaining second spot in the Primera Liga were hit by a dramatic injury-time equaliser from Osasuna striker Walter Pandiani in a 1-1 draw on Sunday.
The home side appeared to be moving back to within 10 points of leaders Barcelona only for Pandiani to turn in Masoud Shojae’s volleyed cross-shot with the Sevilla defence appealing in vain for an offside flag.
There was still time for the hosts to come close to restoring their lead but Fredi Kanoute’s shot came back off the woodwork.
Osasuna will argue they merited a point for their industry but they lacked creativity in midfield and remain bottom of the Primera Liga.
If the home side thought they would stroll past the cellar dwellers, the opening 20 minutes would have come as a shock.
Osasuna dominated possession, albeit mostly in their own half, while Sevilla struggled to get their passing game going.
Jose Antonio Camacho’s side hassled and harried their opponents and created the first chance of note, Kike Sola glancing Jaroslav Plasil’s left-wing corner wide when he ought to have got his effort on target.
Sevilla finally warmed to the task and went close midway through the opening period.
Navas, whose early attempts to create chances were hindered by poor deliveries into the box, did get it right after 24 minutes but his right-wing centre was nodded wide by Kanoute, who had got up above his marker and outrushing goalkeeper Roberto Fernandez.
Sevilla midfielder Ndri Romaric was next to try his luck with a 30-yard piledriver which flashed past Roberto’s right-hand upright.
Manolo Jimenez’s men were on top now and they could count themselves unfortunate not to have been awarded a penalty two minutes before half-time when Kanoute was felled inside the area by a rash Miguel Flano challenge.
The hosts did make the breakthrough five minutes after the restart, however.
Renato found space on the left and chipped a ball to Navas on the edge of the box which the winger chested down before lashing in a shot with the outside of his right foot which flew past the helpless Roberto.
Navas hammered another long-range shot over shortly after as Sevilla threatened to turn the screw.
But with just a one-goal lead, Osasuna were always in the game and they nearly grabbed an equaliser with 15 minutes remaining.
Within a minute of his introduction, substitute Masoud cut in from the right, skipped past Julien Escude but then blasted his shot high over the bar when a greater degree of composure would surely have resulted in a memorable goal.
Navas again came close to settling the game after 85 minutes when, having played a clever one-two with Renato, he burst through only to see his shot well saved by Roberto.
It was to prove a costly miss as Osasuna salvaged a point late on with Pandiani showing all his predatory instincts to turn in Masoud’s speculative effort.
Kanoute almost won it but, after Sebastien Squillaci had cleverly flicked on Navas’ corner, his shot struck Roberto and diverted on to the bar before drifting away to safety.
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