Villa Scores Twice As Valencia Beat Valladolid 4-2
13th September 2009
David Villa scored twice Sunday as Valencia beat Valladolid 4-2 in the Spanish league.
Valencia went ahead in the 10th minute through David Silva. The Spain midfielder fed a pass down the left wing to Juan Manuel Mata, who sent a cross back for Silva to head in from close range.
Also on Sunday, Tenerife beat Osasuna 2-1, Deportivo La Coruna beat Malaga 1-0, Villarreal drew 1-1 against Mallorca, Sporting Gijon beat Almeria 1-0 and Athletic Bilbao beat Xerez 1-0 to also start the season perfectly.
Barcelona leads the standings on goal difference ahead of Real Madrid, Valencia and Athletic with all four clubs having the maximum six points after two rounds.
Silva was at the heart of most of Valencia's attacks and was a constant threat in the midfield. His shot hit the post in the 21st and moments later his cross found Pablo Hernandez only for the winger to shoot wide.
Despite Valencia's early dominance through rapid counterattacks, Nauzet Aleman found the net for Valladolid after half an hour, scoring after Valencia goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya failed to clear Nestor Cannobio's shot.
Valencia struck back in the 33rd as Ever Banega sent a long pass over the Valladolid midfield, finding Pablo Hernandez on the right, who set up David Villa to tap in his first goal of the season.
Villa appeared to have scored again when he chested in a cross but referee Undiano Mallenco disallowed it for offside, although television replays showed Villa behind the defenders when the pass was delivered.
Valladolid came close to equalizing again shortly before the break, when chaotic defending saw Jonathan Sesma just failing to beat Moya with a close-range volley. An immediate counterattack by Banega sent the unmarked Juan Manuel Mata down the left wing and he coolly shot between advancing goalkeeper Jacobo Ovejero's legs.
Villa scored again in the 56th, after Luis Miguel Brito's long pass put him through to shoot past Ovejero.
Valencia looked to be heading for a comfortable win in Valladolid's Jose Zorrilla stadium, but the hosts cut the deficit to 4-2 in the 66th when Angola striker Mateus "Manucho" Contreiras scored with his left foot.
