Osasuna 0 : 2 Celta Vigo - Nolito plunges Osasuna into trouble

Posted Sunday, May 04, 2014 by PA

Nolito's brace handed Celta Vigo a 2-0 win at El Sadar Stadium to plunge Osasuna deep into relegation trouble.

The Spanish forward made it seven goals in four games to continue his hot streak and leave Javi Gracia's side one place and two points outside of the drop zone ahead of Saturday's late game.

Celta Vigo wasted no time in quashing the idea that they might take it easy with nothing to play for as they took control almost immediately.

Nolito fired a shot from 20 yards in the second minute that was comfortably claimed by Osasuna keeper Andres Fernandez, but it was an early warning of what would follow.

Fifteen minutes later, Nolito made no mistake with an exquisite lob from just inside the box, which left Fernandez with no chance.

Los Rojillos tried to hit back straight away, forcing Castro Jonny into a desperate clearance, but just as it looked like they were finding their feet Nolito sucker-punched them with his 14th goal of the season to make it 2-0 at half time.

He peeled off his marker at the far post to latch on to Fabian Orellana's superb cross from and rifled home a low shot across Fernandez and into the bottom corner.

Sergio had to pull off two top-class saves in eight minutes to deny Oriol Riera as the home side fired out of the blocks after the interval.

First he denied the Osasuna hit-man from close range, before getting down well to block after Reira nipped in front of Montana Inigo Lopez to fire low towards goal from 18 yards.

The hosts continued to probe, but they could not find a way past Sergio and remain precariously balanced just outside of the relegation zone.