La Liga: Iñaki Williams scores to rescue a point for Athletic Club

Ghana international forward Iñaki Williams scored his second goal of the season during Athletic Club’s 1-1 La Liga draw at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.

A keenly contested week 26 fixture saw Rayo Vallecano center-back Florian Lejeune rattle Athletic Club’s upright with a thumping header early in the game, leaving keeper Unai Simon with no answer to the effort.

It was end-to-end action at the Vallecas as the hosts squeezed their way into the lead in the 36th minute mark. A beautifully worked out play saw Alvaro Garcia lay a perfect pass to Jorge de Frutos, who sliced in the opener in the 36th minute mark.

The goal was initially ruled out for an offside but further VAR viewing by referee Victor Garcia granted Vallecano the needed lead much to the ecstasy of the home fans.

Jorge Frutos thought he had doubled Vallecano’s tally following a quick break but his well lobbed effort was adjudged offside with four minutes to the half time break.

The visitors, however, recovered quickly to fetch the equalizer through Williams just on the stroke of half time.

Goalkeeper Simon sent a long searching ball from his area to substitute Álex Berenguer, whose low header located Williams to power the opener above Vallecano keeper Augusto Batalla.

 

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For a moment, it appeared that Pathe Ciss had found the lead for Vallecano. However, a foul incident on Williams cancelled out the goal. Williams has struggled to score in the current campaign due to injury, managing just two goals in eighteen games.

He played the full ninety minutes as Athletic Club climbed a step into 8th place on the La Liga table with 35 points from 26 games this season.