Fútbol Americano
2015-16 Spanish LaLiga
GIJ 
2
Finalizado
 ATL
1
PA 8y

Atletico Madrid shocked by Sporting Gijon as Carlos Castro nets late

Atletico Madrid stumbled in their pursuit of Barcelona for the Liga title after conceding two late goals to lose at relegation-threatened Sporting Gijon 2-1 on Saturday.

Atletico looked set to maintain their challenge after Antoine Griezmann scored from a free kick in the first half.

The visitors' defence resisted Sporting's attack until a late push produced a free kick that Antonio Sanabria blasted in with 11 minutes to play.

Sporting's Carlos Castro completed the turnaround with a goal in the 89th minute with Atletico playing with 10 men -- defender Jose Gimenez went down injured after coach Diego Simeone made all three substitutions.

Barcelona lead Atletico by eight points before visiting fourth-place Villarreal on Sunday.

"We always kept clear the objective of this club, which is to finish in third place. The loss goes against any aspirations of finishing as champions," said Simeone, who insists Atletico overachieve by even competing with Barcelona and Real Madrid. Atletico remain four points above Real, who are third.

"We controlled the game until they equalised," Simeone said. "There is no need to look for excuses. The reality is there for anyone to see. We don't have anything else."

Atletico can also chase silverware in the Champions League, with Friday's draw pitting the club against Barcelona in the quarterfinals.

Atletico have conceded a league-low 12 goals this season, and only one of those in the last six matches. The game at El Molinon Stadium was following that exact script until Sporting's revival.

After Griezmann curled his free kick over the wall and just inside the post, the 2014 champions were content to allow Sporting possession and lock down their defence, despite playing without leading defender Diego Godin due to a leg injury.

And the strategy that Simeone has perfected was working just fine until the last 12 minutes.

Sanabria hit the post, and moments later the striker finally beat goalkeeper Jan Oblak with a powerful free kick struck through the wall that Atletico midfielder Matias Kranevitter deflected, leaving Oblak out of position.

Shortly after, Gimenez pulled up clutching his leg during a sprint to keep up with Sanabria on a counterattack, leaving the latter clear to draw Oblak off his line and pass to Castro with the net open.

Castro struck the ball off the bar to the disbelief of home fans but he made up for it in another attack down the left flank that left him needing only to tap home a pass from Jony Rodriguez.

"We have lost three very important points for the league," Atletico midfielder  Koke said. "We know they face Villarreal, but there is now one game less to go."

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