Falcao penalty snatches Rayo draw

Former Atletico striker scores from 92nd minute penalty for 1-1 stalemate

MADRID:

Former Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao earned Rayo Vallecano a 1-1 draw against his old side in La Liga with a 92nd minute penalty on Tuesday.

Alvaro Morata's first-half strike seemed poised to help Atletico strengthen their grip on third place and keep close to leaders Real Madrid and Barcelona, but Rayo snatched a deserved draw.

After the break the hosts had their backs to the wall at the Metropolitano and weren't able to finish their chances on the break. The pressure eventually told when Jose Gimenez handled in the box.

"We had good chances to score the second and kill the game off, but we didn't score," Atletico coach Diego Simeone told Movistar.

"We've dropped two important points."

The Rojiblancos broke the deadlock in the 20th minute when Antoine Griezmann won the ball high up the pitch and crossed for his strike partner Morata to finish consummately. The France forward was impressive again and seems to be returning to his best level.

Pathe Ciss headed wide from six yards early in the second half as Andoni Iraola's team battled to find the equaliser, and substitute Sergio Camello flashed a shot just past the post.

The lively striker, on loan from Atletico, nearly set up Falcao to score but Ivo Grbic saved and Gimenez managed to hack the ball away.

Griezmann fired home at the other end but the goal was disallowed for a tight offside and Matheus Cunha had a shot saved from a tight angle as Atletico rediscovered some attacking impetus.

However, when Gimenez handled a Rayo header in stoppage time they surrendered the three points. Falcao, who played for Atletico between 2011-2013, slammed the penalty into the top corner.

"It leaves a bad taste in the mouth," grumbled Morata, after the referee checked the penalty incident on the pitchside VAR screen.

"I don't understand anything. When things happen to us, they don't look at it and when we're defending in our box they look at everything."

Elsewhere Ernesto Valverde's Athletic, now sixth, were unable to pull themselves back into the top four as they drew 2-2 at Getafe.

Valencia captain Jose Gaya missed a late penalty amid a chaotic finale as Sevilla held the visitors to a 1-1 draw.