Valencia Triumph in Thrilling Encounter

Valencia vs Racing

Roberto Soldado, "Valencia's man of the match"

Valencia CF played their season opener home at the Mestalla against Racing Santander. In an exciting match Valencia would score three goals and turn back a two goal deficit to win the match 4-3. It was a thrilling encounter in which Emery’s men showed real character and determination to put in a solid performance on opening day.

Valencia got off to a bright start, scoring in the first minute off some brilliant attacking play culminating in winger Pablo Hernandez’s shot which was saved by Racing’s goalkeeper, Toño. He couldn’t hold the shot though and striker Roberto Soldado was there for the tap in. Things would start to sour for Valencia. Racing would score three goals, one coming from an own goal by the very same Soldado. The other two Racing goals came from very well executed counter attacks in which Laurato Acosta (on loan at Racing from Sevilla) played a decisive role, scoring the go ahead goal to give Racing a 2-1 lead in the 14^th minute and starting the counter attack that led to the 3-1 for Racing in the 55^th minute.

Valencia would get their second goal soon after in the 57^th minute via a header from new signing Adil Rami. The goal came from a Pablo Hernandez corner, which Rami rose to wonderfully to head home. It was Rami’s Valencia debut and he looked delighted. Valencia would control the match from then on, but found goals hard to come by, hitting the post and being denied a penalty (though to be fair it was a good call by the referee). The goals came late, and they were great. Soldado, Valencia’s man of the match, scored twice in two minutes. The first goal came in the 88^th minute off a wonderful little flick from striker Jonas, who put Soldado 1v1 with Toño, which Soldado slotted home with ease. Two minutes later in the 90^th minute, left back Jordi Alba surged forward and put in a delightful cross. Jonas would flop at it at the near post, but Toño too could not reach the ball, leaving Soldado unmarked at the back post where he was ready for the tap in. That goal gave Valencia the 4-3 advantage, which they almost turned into a 5-3 if not for some inspired keeping by Toño in the 4^th minute of injury time.

Line ups:

Valencia CF: Vicente Guaita; Bruno Saltor, Adil Rami, Ricardo Costa (Tino Costa, 45^th min), Jordi Alba; Mehmet Topal, Ever Banega, Pablo Hernandez, Pablo Piatti (Jonas Goncalves, 68^th min), Juan Bernat (Sergio Canales, 45^th min); Roberto Soldado

Racing Santander: Toño Rodríguez; José Picón (Borja García, 70th min), Álvaro González, Ósmar Barba, Domingo Cisma; Kennedy Bakircioglü, Papakouly Diop, Adrián González, Manuel Arana (Jairo Samperio, 78th min); Pedor Munitis; Lautaro Acosta (Edu Bedia, 64th min)

Goals: 1-0 Roberto Soldado (1st min), 1-1 Roberto Soldado (own goal, 6th min), 1-2 Lautaro Acosta (14th min), 1-3 Adrian Gonzalez (55th min), 2-3 Adil Rami (57^th min), 3-3 Roberto Soldado (88^th min), 4-3 Roberto Soldado (90^th min)

By: David Wall