Torino 2 - 2 Athletic Bilbao - Gurpegui rescues Athletic

Posted Friday, February 20, 2015 by PA

Substitute Carlos Gurpegui scored a 73rd-minute equaliser to earn Athletic Club a 2-2 draw at Torino in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie on Thursday.

Torino trailed 1-0 after Inaki Williams put the Spanish outfit ahead in the ninth minute, but two goals from Maxi Lopez gave the home side a 2-1 half-time lead.

Gurpegui, who entered the pitch in the 58th minute, pulled his team level and almost made it 3-2 but his powerful header hit the crossbar with eight minutes remaining.

b Torino coach Giampiero Ventura, whose side finished runners-up to Brugge in Group B, surprisingly left the team's leading scorer Fabio Quagliarella out of his starting XI and fielded Lopez alongside Josef Martinez up front.

Athletic dominated early possession and went in front in the ninth minute.

A fast counter-attack from the visitors saw Borja Viquera cross to the far post where Williams was left with an easy tap in to beat Torino goalkeeper Daniele Padelli.

Torino pulled level in the 18th minute when Lopez got behind Cristian Molinaro's pass and struck a diagonal shot from 10 yards past a helpless Athletic goalkeeper Iago Herrerin.

The home side had a good chance to go in front in the 32nd minute but Martinez's powerful header from Omar El Kaddouri's cross flew wide.

Martinez wasted another golden opportunity soon after when he failed to beat Herrerin in a one-on-one.

Toro's persistence paid off in the 42nd minute when Lopez's powerful header from Matteo Darmian's cross from the right beat Herrerin.

The hosts should have made it 3-1 early in the second half but when Molinaro got past his marker and drilled a right-footed shot towards the far post and Herrerin was equal to the task.

Daniele Padelli could do nothing to prevent Athletic's equaliser.

Gurpegui got behind Benat 's free-kick and nodded the ball past the Toro keeper.

Athletic came closest to scoring again in the 82nd minute when Gurpegui headed another free-kick off the crossbar.

The Italians travel to Bilbao next week for the return leg.