Girona salvage 1-1 draw against Getafe with late goal

Girona (Spain), Dec 22 (IANS): Girona scored a goal in the dying minutes of the second half to pull out a 1-1 draw against visiting Getafe in La Liga.

Getafe came out aggressively at Estadi Montilivi in this northeastern city on Friday night, putting the hosts on their heels in the opening minutes by employing an intense high press led by forwards Jorge Molina, Angel and Jaime Mata, reports Efe news.

The Madrid club then nearly got on the board in the 18th minute when a low shot by Molina forced Girona goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to make a diving save.

But even though Getafe dictated play overall in the first half, the hosts had the best scoring opportunity prior to the intermission.Borja Garcia set up that play in the 41st minute with an outstanding long-range pass to Portu, but the Spanish midfielder had one shot denied by Getafe net minder David Soria and a second by defender Vitorino Antunes.

Shortly after halftime, Girona nearly opened the scoring on a potent header from the penalty spot by Bernardo Espinosa that Soria managed to save.Getafe finally ended the scoreless deadlock at the one-hour mark when Antunes sent a cross to the far post to an unmarked Angel, who volleyed a right-footed shot past Bounou.

Whistles could be heard at Montilivi as the final minutes ticked away, but defender Colombian Bernardo Espinosa secured a point for the home side when he headed home a free kick by Alex Granell in the 85th minute.

–IANSkk/sed