Carlos Soler returned to Mestalla to score a decisive penalty against Valencia Club de Fútbol. The former midfielder, a product of the club's academy, was key in a 2-3 home defeat to Real Sociedad this past Saturday, a result that deepens the team's struggles near the bottom of the table.
Valencia, sitting 19th with just four points from six games, watched a former idol compound their difficult start to the season. Soler, one of seven changes made by visiting manager Pellegrino Matarazzo, came on to replace Mikel Oyarzabal and took responsibility for the spot-kick in the 75th minute, converting it for a temporary 1-2 lead. The Valencia-born player did not celebrate the goal.
Before the game, the footballer expressed his feelings for the club that raised him. Carlos Soler said: "I returned to Mestalla as a visitor four years after my last game here. Although I have a lot of affection for the city and the club, I wanted to take the penalty and I scored it, which in the end was very important."
The match, which finished with goals from Luka Sučić, Aaron Mayol, an own goal from Luken Beitia and Ander Barrenetxea for Real Sociedad, leaves Valencia with four defeats in their last five games. The team has conceded ten goals and scored only two so far this campaign, a critical situation reflected in the standings.
After the match, Matarazzo gave his squad six days off, while Soler was expected to return to his hometown shortly. Valencia, for their part, must now focus on their next fixture away to Racing Santander, who sit 14th, on October 11th.
More detail at Marca - Primera
