Athletic Club - Elche CF

Athletic Club drew 1–1 at San Mames against an Elche CF side that were clearly inferior and came close to taking all three points. A move set up by Alex Berenguer ten minutes from time, turned into an own goal by Víctor Chust, salvaged a draw with ten minutes remaining. Anselmi’s side had taken the lead through a Buonanotte penalty in their first, and practically only,  foray towards Simón’s goal. The Lions deserved to win, but failed to find the back of Dituro’s net.

The tribute to club member number 1, Justo Izagirre, and his wife, also a member who had passed away in the early hours, could not be made complete. And yet the red and white team tried everything possible to make it so.

Athletic dominated possession from the start, creating clear-cut chances despite failing to find the target against Dituro.

The first chance was a clear-cut one for Iñaki Williams, who became the fifth-most capped player in the club’s history, as he stood right in front of goal but sent a cross from Sancet wide.

There was a goal disallowed for Nico Williams for offside, a nutmeg followed by a cross from his brother that Robert Navarro miraculously failed to reach, and a shot from the latter that hit the crossbar. And in between, a left-footed strike from Yuri hit the side netting. Terzic’s side’s defensive work was superb, and Elche didn’t even come close to Simón’s goal. They just needed to be more clinical.

And yet, in the third minute of the second half, from the visitors’ first attack, came the penalty conceded against Valera and converted by Buonanotte. It dealt a blow to the Lions, who fought back through a move by Nico Williams, finished off by Berenguer with the help of Chust.

Dituro prevented defeat with a diving save from Nico’s curling shot, and Maroan came within a whisker of finishing off another move right in front of goal. At least they picked up a point; now it’s Levante’s turn.