Jonas treble boosts Valencia

Brazilian striker Jonas hit an eight-minute hat-trick as Valencia cruised past 10-man Osasuna 3-0 at the Mestalla.

Brazilian striker Jonas hit an eight-minute hat-trick as Valencia cruised past 10-man Osasuna 3-0 at the Mestalla. Jonas scored after 45, 48 and 53 minutes as the home side finally ground out a win against opponents who had seen captain Francisco Punal sent off in the 16th minute. The win moves Valencia into ninth in the Primera Division table and left Osasuna 16th and three points above the relegation zone. Valencia went on the attack in the first minute but Sofiane Feghouli fired his shot wide of the target. Five minutes later Osasuna had their first opening but Miguel de las Cuevas saw his shot blocked by Victor Ruiz. The visitors could have taken the lead when Emiliano Armenteros crossed from the right wing but a close range header by Alejandro Arribas was off target. But with just 15 minutes on the clock Osasuna captain Punal was dismissed for his foul on Dani. Valencia tried to make their man advantage pay but Juan Bernat fired over the bar after 20 minutes before Osasuna goalkeeper Andres Fernandez kept out a shot from Jonas. Just after the half hour Sergio Canales hit the bar with a shot from range as Valencia still struggled to open the scoring. As half-time approached Dani saw his shot from distance punched out by Fernandez. But a minute before the break Valencia finally broke the deadlock when Jonas slotted the ball home from a low cross by Antonio Barragan. In the third minute of the second half Jonas doubled the lead when he volleyed in a Feghouli cross from 12 yards. Jonas made it three for him and Valencia when he scored from the edge of the area, sweeping home another accurate low ball from Barragan. Valencia continued to create more chances but could not find a way past Fernandez and had to be content with a 3-0 win.