Athletic rallies late to draw Granada

Athletic rallies late to draw Granada

Published Apr. 11, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

Europa League favorites Athletic Bilbao scored twice in the final 10 minutes to draw 2-2 at 10-man Granada on Wednesday.

Romero fired home from the middle of the penalty area in the second minute before he was dismissed shortly before the break for violent conduct.

Despite being a man down, Alexandre Geijo doubled the home side's lead in the second half before Fernando Llorente pulled one back for Athletic nine minutes before the end.

Markel Susaeta then levelled the scores for the visitors in the 89th minute when he fired his shot into the top-left corner to salvage a point.

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The final goal came after Granada spent all of the second half a man down after Romero was shown a straight red card in the 38th minute following a challenge on Athletic right-back Andoni Iraola.

The dismissal handed the visitors the chance to level the score from the penalty spot, but Llorente blasted the spot-kick over the bar.

The Lions went close again just before the break when Susaeta's inswinging corner was caught by Granada goalkeeper Julio Cesar before the winger fired another chance over the bar.

Cesar again denied Athletic early in the second half when he saved Iker Muniain's shot from the edge of the 18-yard box, before Geijo doubled the home side's lead in the 74th minute.

Carlos Martins provided the cross which Geijo steered into the bottom corner as Granada scored against the run of play.

Llorente then atoned for his penalty miss when he nodded home from close range after getting on the end of Gomez Ibai's cross before Susaeta's strike claimed a point.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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