Getafe 1 - 1 Atletico de Madrid - Last-gasp Elias earns Atletico point

Posted Wednesday, March 02, 2011 by PA

Substitute Elias netted a late equaliser to help Atletico Madrid salvage a 1-1 draw from their trip to neighbours Getafe.

Getafe enjoyed the perfect start when captain Manu del Moral put the hosts ahead after just three minutes, but January signing Elias headed in his first Atletico goal with eight minutes remaining to ensure the spoils were shared.

The result sees Atletico move to within three points of sixth-placed Athletic Bilbao and the European spots after the Basque side suffered a shock defeat at Real Zaragoza, while Getafe are a further two points back.

Getafe came into the match having slipped down the standings after recording just one win in their previous nine matches, but Michel's men looked on course to leapfrog above Atletico in the table after taking that early lead through Manu.

The former Atletico striker picked up a lay-back from Miku and fired in an angled shot that took a significant deflection off visiting defender Diego Godin before flying into the far top corner past a helpless David De Gea.

That was a great start for Getafe and they pushed forward for a second goal before the break, with one of their better efforts seeing Manu testing De Gea with a looping header.

For Atletico, two long-range Jose Antonio Reyes shots were the only serious threats to Jordi Codina`s goal before the break.

The Rojiblancos looked more of a danger after the interval and, although they still struggled to create much to worry Codina, they drew level in the 82nd minute through Brazilian midfielder Elias.

Forlan chipped the ball into near the penalty spot where Elias climbed to send a glancing header past Codina and into the far side of the net.

That was enough to earn Atletico a point, although they were also indebted to a fine save from De Gea late on to keep out Dani Parejo`s downward header as the match finished event.