Athletic Bilbao Vs. Deportivo La Coruña: 1-2 Full Time, Depor Steal Three Points

Athletic Bilbao were the better team throughout their match tonight at La Catedral, San Mames, but due to some terrible defensive errors and poor finishing, an inferior Deportivo La Coruña side have taken an invaluable three points on the road. Adrian was the man of the hour, scoring both of Depor’s goals.

The first goal came off of a penalty that I thought was legitimate at first, but upon replay was soft. Still, Ustaritz of Athletic hacked rather wildly at Adrian, while he missed him completely, making the referee’s decision difficult. Adrian, who created the penalty kick, also stepped up to convert it and give his team a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute.

Mikel San Jose complicated Bilbao’s cause in the 34th, getting himself sent off for a last man challenge. Again, the referee was forced into a very difficult decision and he very well could have shown just a yellow, but San Jose shouldn’t have complained after making a silly foul on a Depor player in a very advanced position.

Depor let Bilbao back in the match at the stroke of halftime, though, when Juan Rodriguez got himself sent off for a second yellow card offense. It was a silly way for Rodriguez to handicap his team, since he picked up the card for unsportsmanlike conduct away from the ball.

That set up an Athletic onslaught on goal to start the second half. Their defense fell asleep, though, and Adrian would add his second goal in the 52nd minute off of a fantastic long ball by goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia that caught the Bilbao defense completely off guard.

Athletic would pull one back through Llorente in the 86th minute, but it was too little, too late. The game finished 2-1 to Depor, and Athletic have dropped further behind in the race for European places. Despite being the better side all game, they beat themselves and will come away from this fixture with nothing to show for their efforts.