Osasuna damage Elche survival hopes thanks to exquisite Ezzalzouli
Showing no ill signs of their midweek celebrations after reaching their first Copa del Rey final since 2005, Osasuna began proceedings in assertive fashion as Kike Barja fired straight at visiting goalkeeper Édgar Badía almost immediately from the kick-off.
That momentum then looked to have manufactured a glorious opening for Jagoba Arrasate’s side to take the lead from the penalty spot 15 minutes in, after John Chetauya's clumsily brought down Ante Budimir. However, VAR intervened, and referee Pablo González Fuertes overturned his initial on-field decision to the bewilderment of Los Rojillos home faithful. With HT on the horizon, that verdict was made even more significant as Tete Morente brought an eerie silence around the formerly vocalised El Sadar Stadium with a clinical close-range finish that left Aitor Fernández with no chance of stopping.
On the back of being handed a morale-boosting conclusion to a previously disappointing first-half display in Pamplona, Beccacece’s side thought they doubled their advantage within the opening five minutes of the second half. However, VAR was again involved, this time siding with the hosts, advising their colleague on the pitch to rule out Lucas Boyé’s header after it appeared that the returning Argentine international had handled the ball in the build-up.
Unbelievably, without a goal in LL since the end of February, Osasuna brought a welcoming conclusion to that barren goalscoring run in the 71st minute as Abde Ezzalzouli’s effort fortuitously found the back of the net via a wicked deflection off the leg of one of the Elche defenders. With the momentum now in their favour, Arrasate’s side completed their sensational second-half comeback as the highly sought-after winger on loan from Barcelona doubled his tally for the afternoon with an excellent long-range strike.
Victory brings Osasuna one step closer to their first appearance in a UEFA competition since their appearance in the 2006/07 Champions League, while Elche remain 14 points adrift of safety, staring at a first appearance in the second-tier of Spanish football since 2020 after a staggering LL-high 19th defeat of the season.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Abde Ezzalzouli (Osasuna)