Nigerian forward Sadiq Umar struck late to secure a 1-1 draw for Valencia against Rayo Vallecano at the Estadio de Vallecas on Saturday, preserving his side’s unbeaten streak in La Liga.
Trailing to a first-half own goal by César Tárrega, Valencia appeared headed for defeat until Sadiq, introduced in the 66th minute, found the net with 16 minutes remaining.
His composed finish from inside the penalty area marked his fifth league goal of the season and ended a goal drought stretching back to last month’s 2-1 win over Real Valladolid.
Rayo Vallecano initially capitalised on a moment of misfortune for the visitors just before the interval. A low cross into the box took an unfortunate deflection off Tárrega and beat goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, handing the hosts a narrow lead going into the break.
The second half began with Valencia chasing an equaliser but struggling to break down a compact Rayo defence.
In a bid to shift the momentum, head coach Carlos Corberán made a tactical change, bringing on Sadiq to replace André Almeida. The substitution proved decisive.
Sadiq’s introduction injected renewed energy into Valencia’s attack, and the former UD Almería man needed only ten minutes to make his presence felt.
A clever piece of build-up play down the right flank culminated in the ball falling to the Nigerian international, who calmly slotted past Stole Dimitrievski to bring his side level.
The 27-year-old’s goal ensured Valencia extended their unbeaten run to seven matches, equaling their longest such stretch in the top flight since December 2021.
The result moves them to 38 points from 32 matches, maintaining their mid-table position at 14th in the standings.
Despite the draw, Valencia had chances to claim all three points. Hugo Duro and Fran Pérez both came close in the final minutes, but Dimitrievski’s sharp goalkeeping and Rayo’s disciplined defence preserved parity.
For Rayo Vallecano, the point was a modest consolation after a promising start. The home side looked composed for much of the contest but failed to capitalise on their lead or create enough clear chances to secure a win in front of their supporters.
Meanwhile, the spotlight was firmly on Sadiq Umar, whose goal could not have come at a more critical moment.
His return to scoring form will be a welcome boost for Corberán as Valencia continue their push to end the season on a high note.
Valencia’s next fixture offers an opportunity to climb further up the table, with just six matches remaining in the campaign.
For Sadiq, this performance may well serve as a turning point in what has been a stop-start season, as he looks to finish strong and solidify his role in the squad.
