Football: Atletico win with last-gasp Falcao strike

MADRID: Radamel Falcao scored a stunning last-minute free-kick to give Atletico Madrid a 1-0 win at Real Sociedad and keep his team level with Barcelona on 22 points at the top of La Liga. The right-footed, curling strike was Falcao’s ninth league goal of the campaign and the win was Atletico’s 10th straight in all competitions, including seven in the league as they stayed eight points clear of city rivals Real Madrid who are fourth. Atletico coach Diego Simeone was delighted with the late victory. “Both sides went for the win, especially in the second-half, but we had Falcao who won it with a great free-kick,” said Simeone. “He puts in a lot of practice to improve that side of his game and we saw the consequence of that tonight.” In other matches, Espanyol won against Rayo Vallecano 3-2, while Osasuna played out a stalemate with Betis.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2012.