Madrid, October 19 (BNA) Atletico Madrid tied 1-1 with Rayo Vallecano in La Liga after Radamel Falcao scored the equalizer in stoppage time against his former team with a powerful penalty kick.
The result left Atletico in third place, two points behind Barcelona and five points behind league leaders Real Madrid – both of which have a game in hand – while Rayo remained in 10th place, according to Reuters.
The relentless pressure of Atletico led to the opening goal in the 20th minute when Antoine Griezmann fired the ball into third place for defensive Rayo and found Alvaro Morata in the penalty area to deny the Spaniard his fifth goal of the season.
Falcao has often been the focus of the visitors’ attack but the 36-year-old did not get clear chances to score while Atletico’s loaned Sergio Camilo also came close to scoring against his parent club with a shot that went wide.
But Rayo received a lifeline in the 90th minute when the referee awarded them a penalty after Jose Jimenez’s handball after a quick VAR check.
Falcao, who scored 70 goals for Atletico between 2011-2013, went up and scored with confidence, and although the Colombian striker refused to celebrate, his teammates swept him away when they knocked out the Metropolitano with a valuable point.