Getafe 1-Athletic Club 1: First point away from home

Athletic Club has obtained its first point away from home after reaching a (1-1) draw against Getafe. Güiza scored the first goal in the 27th minute shooting over Aranzubia’s head and whose position on the field prior to taking the shot could be considered doubtful. Javi Casas drew in the 40th minute with a header from corner kicked by Yeste and, it is his first goal in our team’s jersey.

The team from Madrid applied the pressure from the very beginning and are proving to be a tough team to beat. During the first half, the teams were even but in the second, the best opportunities belonged to the locals, as the rojiblancos were unable to take advantage of the opportunities created during the final minutes of the game in their counterattack.

In the early stages of the match, Gurpegi committed what should have been a penalty against Riki. However, later he got a dose of his own medicine when he was held back whilst trying to finish off a corner. The first goal opportunity was Güiza’s in the 5th minute which went out. Yeste replied with a header in the 10th minute, but Luis García was able to deflect the ball. The encounter was evenly balanced from that moment on and, only the goals scored could liven up a first half lacking in goal scoring opportunities.

In the second half period, the list of opportunities got longer. Belenguer opened with a header at almost point-blank range in the 46th minute but Aranzubia, who was the last minute inclusion to the team, was able to repel the ball. In the 54th minute Güiza’s high shot missed its mark, in minute 61 of the game Guiza again took a shot at goal which was stopped by Aranzubia and in the 64th Gavilán’s shot went high over the crossbar.

By this time, Lacruz was already on the field stepping in for the goal-scorer Casas and, on behalf of Getafe Paunovic replaced Contra. Soon afterwards, Guerrero stepped in for an injured Llorente who was on the receiving end of a strong blow, which occurred at the start of the match, and the veteran Craioveanu substituted Gavilán in 78th minute. In the 85th minute, Javi González replaced Etxeberria and there were several positional changes on the field made by both teams.

It was towards the end of the match that our best opportunities came knocking, in the 87th minute Yeste took a shot at goal under pressure which unfortunately went out and, Iraola overran the ball in a counterattack manoeuvre resulting in the ball just being left behind. Getafe also had some opportunities in the final stages of the game with a Riki header going high, Riki was replaced immediately by Pachón, who was unable to score against Athletic as he had done last season.

Moving on to something else; players Lacruz and Javi González had to take this season’s first antidoping test.