The road to the first final (IV): CD Tenerife
The road to the first final (IV): CD Tenerife
The knockout tie will be remembered for the show of support to Williams, Yuri’s last-minute screamer in extra-time and the tense penalty shootout
Athletic Club travelled to the Canary Islands for their Round of 16 clash, where they face LaLiga Smartbank side CD Tenerife. The Lions went into the fixture off the back of a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Elche in the previous round.
The tie got off to a frenetic start. Goalkeeper Iago Herrerín was sent off in the second minute after a foul that led to a penalty. Jokin Ezkieta came on for his debut, replacing Unai Nuñez. Unfortunately, the keeper couldn’t prevent Joselu from converting the spot-kick.
In the Lions’ LaLiga match prior to this encounter, striker Iñaki Williams had been the victim of racist abuse at RCD Espanyol. For this reason, the fans of Tenerife decided to show their support by giving Williams a standing ovation in the ninth minute – the number of his shirt- while holding posters stating “No to racism” and “We are all Iñaki Williams”.
By time the 90 minutes were up the game was tied at 2-2. This meant the Rojiblancos would go to extra-time for a second consecutive Copa clash. Tenerife went ahead in the 106 minute, with Dani Gómez scoring a penalty. Just as all seemed lost for Athletic, left-back Yuri Berchiche popped up in the 119th minute and levelled the scores with a thunderous long-range effort.
Athletic’s place in the next round would once again be decided on penalties. Ezkieta stopped Tenerife’s third effort and Shaquell Moore missed their fourth, thus sending Athletic through to the quarter-finals.