Athletic Bilbao 0 : 1 Cordoba C.F. - Cordoba secure long-awaited victory - 7M sport

Athletic Bilbao 0 : 1 Cordoba C.F. - Cordoba secure long-awaited victory



Posted Sunday, December 07, 2014 by PA

Cordoba finally ended their long wait for a first win since returning to the Primera Division by overcoming Athletic Bilbao 1-0 at San Mames thanks to a first-half strike by Nabil Ghilas.

The Algerian forward capitalised on a weak pass from Ander Iturraspe to break the deadlock midway through the first half and the Andalusians passed up several opportunities to add to their lead, but then had to survive a late onslaught from Athletic.

However, Miroslav Djukic's side stood firm to record their first win in Spain's top flight for 42 years, which sees them move on to 10 points for the season.

Athletic, meanwhile, suffered their first defeat in seven league games.

The Basque club's top scorer Aritz Aduriz missed the game after picking up a hamstring problem during the week, so 20-year-old Inaki Williams made his debut for Athletic, less than a week after training with the first team for the first time.

Cordoba went into the game after two demoralising defeats to Granada and Villarreal, but contained Athletic in the early stages.

They could have taken the lead with around a quarter of an hour when Ghilas got down to the byline and pulled the ball back for Borja Garcia, but Oscar de Marcos was able to block the shot.

It was not long before Cordoba did take the lead, but the goal came out of nothing.

Not for the first time this season, a misplaced pass from Iturraspe was punished dearly.

The midfielder attempted a simple back pass to Carlos Gurpegui on the halfway line but it was too weak and Ghilas sprinted to reach the ball first. The Algerian continued racing towards goal and slotted past Gorka Iraizoz with confidence, to the delight of the sizeable travelling band of Cordoba supporters.

Garcia could have doubled the visitor's lead just a few minutes later, but could only shoot straight at Iraizoz.

Athletic had offered very little in the first half and saw a half-hearted appeal for a penalty following a challenge by Aleksandar Pantic on Williams waved away.

The hosts made a better start to the second period and Markel Susaeta could have drawn level three minutes after the re-start but could not direct Borja Viguera's flicked header on goal.

Cordoba then missed two glorious chances to seal the points. Full-back Eduard Campabadal broke free down the right unchallenged but blazed over with just Iraizoz to beat.

Then Ghilas intercepted the ball from Mikel Rico and drove towards goal but Iraizoz narrowed down the angle and smothered the shot.

Athletic threw everything they had at Cordoba in the final moments of the game but the equaliser eluded them - their best chances were a Susaeta free-kick which goalkeeper Juan Carlos caught comfortably, and in added time Rico went for goal from outside the area but could not keep his effort down.



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