Osasuna suffered a devastating blow in a 1-0 home loss to Valencia, marred by Ante Budimir’s shocking penalty miss in the dying moments of the game. The Croatian striker’s embarrassing stumble epitomized a dramatic end to the match, leaving Osasuna reeling.
In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Budimir was controversially awarded a penalty after a lengthy video consultation. However, his stop-start approach to the kick proved disastrous as he barely made contact with the ball, much to the disbelief of everyone, including the goalkeeper.
Osasuna coach Jagoba Arrasate empathized with Budimir’s plight, noting the inevitability of the unforgettable blunder. “He has apologized three times to me and he doesn’t have to ask for forgiveness,” Arrasate said. “That’s part of the game.”
The early lead secured by André Almeida’s angled drive in the 18th minute ultimately proved decisive for Valencia, lifting them to seventh place in the LaLiga standings, just three points behind Real Sociedad in the race for European qualification.
Despite the setback, Osasuna remains in 11th place, level on points with Villarreal and Getafe. However, the haunting memory of Budimir’s missed penalty serves as a stark reminder of the fine margins in football.
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