 |
| Justin Kluivert of Valencia CF celebrates with after scoring their side's first goal during the LaLiga Santander match between CA Osasuna and Valencia CF at El Sadar Stadium on October 07, 2022 in Pamplona, Spain. |
Justin Kluivert scored his first goal for Valencia as Gennaro Gattuso's side won 2-1 against an Osasuna side reduced to nine men in a testy Spanish league match.
Striker Kluivert was making his first start in his fourth appearance since joining Valencia from Roma on loan.
He made a nice run behind the defence, took a through ball from Edinson Cavani, and chipped the goalkeeper to score in the 28th minute.
Kluivert is the son of former Netherlands striker Patrick Kluivert, who scored two goals in his brief stint with Valencia in 2005-06.
When told his father scored for Valencia 16 years before, Kluivert replied "Madre mia! That's a long time!
"These three points are extra important for us because they come against a good team like Osasuna," Kluivert said after his team's first win on the road since Gattuso took over this summer.
Defender Mouctar Diakhaby scrambled in a second goal for the visitors after Osasuna failed to clear a ball from a corner kick in the 54th.
Both Cavani and Osasuna forward Chimy Avila missed penalties.
Chimy sent his chance well high after Valencia's Hugo Duro fouled Kike Garcia in the 59th.
Osasuna played the final 20 minutes a man down after Unai Garcia saw a direct red card for taking down Samuel Lino with only the goalie to beat. Edinson, who has yet to score since joining Valencia, hit the crossbar with the resulting penalty.
Darko Brasanac got Osasuna's goal in stoppage time.
Osasuna also lost Ruben Pena when he received a direct red for kicking a prone Duro with play stopped with just seconds left on the clock.
Diakhaby also received a second yellow card, apparently for using inappropriate language toward the referee, while he was on the bench after being substituted.
Gattuso kicked a cooler while glaring at his defender, who will be suspended for next round's game against Elche.
"We have to remain calm, and a player on the bench has to respect the decisions of the referee," Gattuso said about his defender.
Valencia rose to fifth place while Osasuna slipped to eighth.
