By DPA
Madrid : The 21st round of the Spanish Liga programme kicked off in controversial fashion Saturday night, with a dramatic 2-1 win for Sevilla over hapless Osasuna.
The tense game seemed to be heading for a 1-1 draw. Two minutes into injury time, though, Osasuna youngster Javi Garcia was harshly judged to have handled a centre from Daniel Alves in the area.
To add insult to injury, Garcia was given a second yellow card, leaving Osasuna with just nine men. Fellow defender given Josetxo Romero had been sent off seven minutes earlier.
Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano put away the penalty but was ordered to retake it as three team-mates had invaded the penalty area. The Brazilian calmly converted his second spot-kick to give Sevilla a controversial win.
The late goal puts Fabiano at the top of the scorers’ chart with 14 goals, one more than Diego Milito of Zaragoza.
Sevilla now move up to seventh place in the league with 29 points. Osasuna, in contrast, remain seventh from bottom with 23.
Christian Poulsen had given Sevilla the lead in the 55th minute, by turning in a free-kick from Ernesto Chevanton while the Osasuna defence stood and watched.
Twelve minutes later Enrique Sola levelled for Osasuna with a handsome individual strike, beating three Sevilla defenders down the left and scoring with a precise low drive.
Despite the sending-off of Josetxo, Osasuna seemed capable of holding on for a draw – until that harsh late penalty was given against them.
The big game on Sunday sees leaders Real Madrid at home to third-placed Villarreal, while second-placed Barcelona have a difficult visit to Bilbao.