Correa’s 50-yard stunner as Atletico settle for draw

Forward scores from just inside the halfway-line for 2-2 scoreline against Villarreal

MADRID:

Angel Correa scored a wonder-goal from just inside the halfway-line on Sunday as Atletico Madrid fought back to claim a thrilling 2-2 draw with Villarreal.

Atletico took an early lead at La Ceramica when Correa drove a stunning shot over Villarreal goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli but they fell behind in the second half after Pau Torres and Alberto Moreno turned the game on its head.

Geoffrey Kondogbia pulled Atletico level again, with the midfielder then sent off in injury-time for a second yellow card. Amid the mayhem, Villarreal's Gerard Moreno also missed a penalty when Atletico were in front.

Correa's goal was his seventh of the campaign and will be a strong contender for goal of the season, coming against Rulli, his fellow Argentinian.

"I know Rulli well and I know he has this way of standing a long way out of his goal," Correa said afterwards. "I thought I'd have a go and it came off pretty well."

"It's an incredible goal, it could be goal of the season," said Atletico coach Diego Simeone.

Villarreal came into the game on the back of losing 2-1 to Segunda side Sporting Gijon in the Copa del Rey in midweek and Unai Emery will likely be the more disappointed of the two coaches not to emerge with a victory.

Simeone clenched his fists at the final whistle.

Atletico regain fourth place, now level on points with Real Sociedad in fifth, and 16 behind leaders Real Madrid, albeit with a game in hand.

Villarreal stay eighth, but only four points adrift of the Champions League qualification places.

Sevilla earlier defeated Getafe 1-0 to reduce the gap again to Real Madrid to five points.

Real Betis, who sit third, held on for a 1-1 draw away at RayoVallecano, despite having Alex Moreno sent off in the first half.

Correa's thunderbolt came in the tenth minute and caught everyone by surprise, not just Rulli.

DaniParejo was guilty of giving the ball away on the halfway line but Correa made it into an error by intercepting, touching the ball into the Villarreal half, and then arrowing a superb lob from 50 yards over the leaping Rulli and in.

Gerard Moreno missed the chance to equalise from the penalty spot, Jan Oblak making the save, and while Parejo bundled in the rebound, his equaliser was chalked off after VAR ruled the ball had come off his hand.

Parejo was involved in the equaliser when it came, though, his dipping cross from out wide dropping awkwardly in front of Oblak, who still should have collected but instead spilled for Pau Torres to prod in.