Rossi’s secondhalf penalty proved to be the difference between the two teams at El Madrigal, where Ikechukwu Uche was sent off for Zaragoza.
However, it was the visitors who commenced the match on a brighter note as Ivan Obradovic took a left-footed shot from the left side of the box after just four minutes but failed to find the target.
Gabi then forced Diego Lopez into making a save with a right-footed shot from outside the Villarreal penalty area. Moments later Rossi’s shot from an acute angle drew Zaragoza goalkeeper Antonio Doblas into action.
Thereafter, both sides created chances and went for the opening goal, with Said Boutahar, Uche and Leonardo Ponzio trying their luck for the visiting team and Santiago Cazorla and Nilmar coming close for the Yellow Submarine.
Zaragoza commenced the second half on the front foot as Uche saw his shot saved in the bottom left corner of the Villarreal goal. Minutes later Boutahar first had an attempt blocked and then had a shot saved.
Ander Herrera and Ponzio had chances to break the deadlock for Zaragoza but it was Villarreal which went ahead on 71 minutes. Ponzio committed a foul on Rossi inside the penalty area and the American-born striker successfully converted the spot-kick.
Zaragoza, though, did not give up on scoring an equaliser as Ponzio came close to redeeming himself and Carlos Diogo failed to keep his 82nd minute shot on target.
Cazorla could have increased the tally for Villarreal late in the match but his attempt on the Zaragoza goal was saved. Uche was then sent off in injury time for the visitors after picking up his second yellow card of the match.
Nevertheless, Villarreal won the game 1-0 and consolidated its fourth place position in the table. As for Zaragoza, it remains a point and a place above the relegation zone.
Read more:
Villarreal 1-0 Real Zaragoza: Rossi Strikes Again For Yellow Submarine