A tale of two minutes as Levante let victory slip

Casadesus catches visitors cold
Before either side had properly settled into a rhythm out on the pitch, Jefferson Lerma's lovely diagonal pass in behind found Victor Casadesus, who controlled brilliantly and then coolly slotted into the net. This opening goal galvanised Levante UD, whose belief seemed to soar as the minutes wore on.

Isolated sparks from Iñaki Williams
Athletic Club tried to get back into the game after going behind but their only flashes of inspiration came from Iñaki Williams. Levante continued to have the upper hand, although they did not create much else of note in the first half, and it was Williams who fired the last shot in anger before half-time. However, the young forward failed to trouble Diego Mariño with his effort.

Tempo upped in second half
Giuseppe Rossi sought to work his magic at the start of the second period, which was contested with much more intensity than the first 45 minutes. Athletic in particular turned over a new leaf, spraying the ball around much more crisply and threatening the opposition box more regularly, although they still struggled to carve out many clear openings to begin with.

 

Dynamo Morales makes his presence count
Besides his speed and directness, Jose Luis Morales always offers a tireless work ethic whenever he takes to the field, and his umpteenth surge forward paid dividends midway through the second half. The winger broke the offside trap and shrewdly pulled the ball back into the corridor of uncertainty in front of the goalkeeper, where defender Xabier Etxeita could only divert it into his own net.

Susaeta and San Jose deliver grandstand finish
It looked for all the world like the relegation battlers were set to claim three priceless points, but all that changed in the space of two minutes, as Athletic exhibited their never-say-die attitude. First Markel Susaeta reduced the deficit with a fiercely struck, if slightly deflected drive after some fine interplay, and then Mikel San Jose made it 2-2 with a snap shot off a Williams cross. This late, late show crushed Levante's hopes of climbing off the bottom of the table, while the draw was enough for the Basques to clinch a European berth for next season.