Athletic Bilbao's reserve team, Bilbao Athletic, began their Primera RFEF season with a dramatic 1-1 draw away at Zamora. The match, officiated by Javier Figueiredo from the Galician Committee, was decided in stoppage time with goals from Conde and Izan.
How did the match unfold?
The game at the Ruta de la Plata stadium started intensely. Zamora's forward Pau Mascaró created two dangerous approaches in the opening two minutes. The first clear chance for the hosts came just before halftime when Mascaró found himself one-on-one with the Bilbao Athletic goalkeeper, but Izagirre made a crucial save. In the second half, Carbonell came close to scoring for Zamora but missed his attempt.
Bilbao Athletic responded after about an hour of play. Huestamendia created a clear opportunity for the visitors, managed by debutant coach Bittor Llopis. The match seemed headed for a goalless draw until the frantic finish. In the 79th minute, Izan scored for Zamora, but the referee, after consulting the FVS system following a claim from the visiting coach, disallowed the goal for a prior foul on Selton.
What happened in the dramatic finale?
The final minutes were a whirlwind of emotions. In the 90th minute, the referee awarded a penalty to Bilbao Athletic for a foul by Gorjón on Vizcay inside the area. Conde, who had come on in the 67th minute, calmly converted the spot-kick to make it 0-1. The visitors' joy was short-lived.
In the 94th minute, Izan, who had entered the pitch in the 60th, scored the equalizer for Zamora with a precise finish. But the action didn't end there. In the 99th minute, Hidalgo, another substitute for the hosts, had a golden opportunity to win the game, but his shot missed the target. The match ended 1-1, leaving mixed feelings for both sides.
Who were the key figures?
Bilbao Athletic coach Bittor Llopis took charge of his first official match. His intervention leading to the disallowed goal showed his attention to detail. On the pitch, goalkeeper Santos played the full 90 minutes, while players like Beñat García and Oyono were substituted in the second half.
For Zamora, manager Iker Piedra started in goal. In defense, the central pairing was Luismi Luengo and Dufur. In midfield, Juanje and Iago Indias started but were both replaced during the second period. Forward Mascaró, who created the early chances, left the pitch in the 74th minute.
What does this result mean for the season?
The draw represents a starting point for Bilbao Athletic in Primera RFEF. The team showed character to withstand home pressure and capitalized on their chance from the penalty spot. However, conceding the equalizer in the final minute leaves a bittersweet taste. According to the Mundo Deportivo report, the reserve team "could have lost, could have won, but ultimately drew."
This result places the team in the mid-table region of the early standings. The Primera RFEF calendar is long, and this away point could prove valuable by the end of the campaign. Fans can follow the progress of both the reserve and first teams on our squad and standings pages. Bilbao Athletic's next fixture will be key to building on this opening day performance.
