Carlos Vela helped Real Sociedad avoid defeat to relegation-threatened Osasuna in a 3-2 victory Sunday afternoon.
The Mexico forward was on the mark in the 72nd minute, putting Sociedad ahead after Osasuna found an early goal through Kenan. But Raul Navas scored an equalizer in the 62nd minute and ten minutes later it was Vela nosing the home side ahead.
Vela used the outside of his left foot to knock a pass to Mikel Oyarzabal, who immediately returned the ball to Vela. Vela hit the ball with his first touch, sending a left-footed shot past Osasuna goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu to make the score 2-1. Both sides would add another goal before the close of the match.
It's the fifth La Liga goal of the season for Vela, matching his total from the 2015-16 campaign. And while it's the first time the 27-year-old has scored in the league since a Nov. 5 win over Atletico Madrid, Vela also was on the mark earlier this year in a Copa del Rey victory over Villarreal.
The win solidifies Sociedad's spot in the European places in La Liga with the side set to return to action Friday with a visit to Espanyol. Vela likely will take part in Mexico's upcoming World Cup qualifiers in March with El Tri hosting Costa Rica and traveling to face Trinidad and Tobago.
