Villarreal Snatch Top Spot with Dramatic Late Penalty Victory
Villarreal’s dramatic late penalty secured a thrilling 4-3 victory over Celta Vigo on Monday, propelling them to the summit of La Liga. The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with both teams trading blows throughout the 90 minutes and beyond.
Celta, who entered the match as league leaders, took an early lead through Borja Iglesias’ opportunistic strike. However, Villarreal responded swiftly, with Sergi Cardona equalizing from a corner. Oscar Mingueza restored Celta’s advantage before halftime, but Villarreal’s substitutes proved to be game-changers.
Thierno Barry, who had just entered the fray, headed home an equalizer on the hour mark. Minutes later, Celta defender Jailson inadvertently turned a Nicolas Pepe cross into his own net, giving Villarreal the lead. Carl Starfelt’s header brought Celta level once more in the 80th minute.
As the match entered stoppage time, Villarreal was awarded a penalty after Hugo Alvarez fouled Barry. Dani Parejo’s initial spot-kick was saved by Ivan Villar, but the Villarreal captain pounced on the rebound to secure the dramatic victory.
The win propelled Villarreal to the top of the La Liga standings with seven points, while Celta dropped to third place. The match showcased the attacking prowess of both teams and highlighted the importance of substitutes in modern football.