Real Oviedo returned to triumph with a goal from Salomon Rondon
An unexpected comeback at Mestalla thanks to the Venezuelan striker from the former Pachuca team
Real Oviedo surprised Valencia this Tuesday at the Mestalla Stadium by taking a 1-2 victory in a match postponed due to a weather alert. Late goals from Serbia's Luka Ilic and Venezuela's Salomon Rondon turned the tide in a match that the home side had seemingly controlled.
Get 20% off UEFA Champions League broadcasts in Spanish on DAZN.
The match started brilliantly for Valencia. Just four minutes in, a recovery effort by Foulquier led to a great individual effort from Luis Rioja, who broke down the right flank and crossed into the box. Arnaut Danjuma appeared to finish with precision and open the scoring with an acrobatic finish. The Dutchman could have extended their lead in the second half from the penalty spot, but his shot was saved by Aaron Escandell, in one of the key interventions of the night.
Oviedo holds on and strikes at the end
Valencia dominated the first half of the match with fluidity in attack and an inspired Rioja, who created several chances. However, Oviedo stayed in the game with defensive effort and timid approaches. The clearest came in the 43rd minute with a shot from Santiago Colombatto that challenged Agirrezabala. This action marked a change in mood for the Asturians, who grew in confidence.
In the second half, Paunovic's team showed more aggression. Brekalo and Vinas issued warnings with long-range shots, while Valencia, although they regained possession with Corberan's substitutions, failed to gain any traction in the opponent's box.
The final straw came in the final stretch. In the 85th minute, Luka Ilic took advantage of a team move to equalize with a tight shot. Barely a minute later, Salomon Rondon, always alert in the box, turned the score around and celebrated his first goal for Oviedo in LaLiga. The Venezuelan striker showed his proficiency when it mattered most.
Valencia tried to react in the added minutes, with Gaya creating the last clear chance. However, they were unable to prevent defeat.which was made even more bitter by Ilic's expulsion in extra time for a second yellow card.