Clash Ends Early After Bottle Incident
Real Betis p-p Athletic Bilbao
The match between Betis and Athletic Bilbao was called off in the 72th minute after Athletic goalkeeper Armando was struck by a bottle thrown from the crowd with his side leading 2-1.
Athletic took the lead after 8 minutes through Francisco Javier Yeste, but were pegged back in the 37th minute when Mark González reacted quickest to fire home from close range.
Betis pushed for a second in the first twenty minutes of the second half, but went behind once more against the run of play when David López scored from the spot after Joseba Exteberria had been brought down inside the area.
Just four minutes after they re-took the lead, Athletic goalkeeper Armando was hit by a bottle thrown from the crowd and had to be stretched off the field of play while visibly bleeding from the impact.
Referee Clos Gomez took the decision to suspend the match and the teams left the pitch with eighteen minutes of play still remaining.
The match had kicked-off in open fashion with González seeing his ferocious drive well kept out by Armando, before Yeste hit the post for Athletic inside the opening five minutes.
Yeste didn't have to wait long to get on the score-sheet as just three minutes later he latched onto Fernando Llorente's through ball and finished neatly past Ricardo to give Athletic the early advantage.
After such a pulsating opening it was perhaps inevitable that proceedings would taper off slightly and that proved to be the case, as Athletic were successfully able to prevent the home side creating opportunities in front of goal.
Betis started to see more of the ball as the half worn on and received a boost when the influential Yeste was taken off injured just past the half hour.
They got the equaliser with just under ten minutes remaining in the half: González latching onto Edu's cross and beating Armando at the second attempt after his initial effort had rebounded back off the woodwork.
Capi fired over the bar for Betis in first half stoppage time, as the sides went into the break level on the score-sheet and in possession of the football.
The home team continued their momentum from the end of the first period into the second, with Athletic doing their best to present a solid defensive wall for Betis to try and break down.
Betis did found a way through on the hour mark as González – who seemed to be at the heart of most of their attacking moves – headed just wide at the far post from another centre by the similarly impressive Edu.
Just as Betis were building up a head of steam, Athletic were given an opportunity to re-take the lead, when Juanito was adjudged to have felled Exteberria inside the area. Substitute López made no mistake from the spot, despite having to take the kick twice and Athletic were back in front with 25 minutes remaining.
The goal brought frustration from the home supporters and one took things too far when he threw a bottle at Armando, which struck the Athletic goalkeeper in the face, causing a cut.
Medics attended to the veteran goalkeeper, while Gomez deliberated with his fellow officials over what action to take. With Armando stretched off, the referee elected to take the teams off the field and suspend the match.
This incident could have a profound effect on Betis' season depending on how the Spanish Football Federation decide to act upon it, but for now it is likely that the three points will be awarded to Athletic.
The match between Betis and Athletic Bilbao was called off in the 72th minute after Athletic goalkeeper Armando was struck by a bottle thrown from the crowd with his side leading 2-1.
Athletic took the lead after 8 minutes through Francisco Javier Yeste, but were pegged back in the 37th minute when Mark González reacted quickest to fire home from close range.
Betis pushed for a second in the first twenty minutes of the second half, but went behind once more against the run of play when David López scored from the spot after Joseba Exteberria had been brought down inside the area.
Just four minutes after they re-took the lead, Athletic goalkeeper Armando was hit by a bottle thrown from the crowd and had to be stretched off the field of play while visibly bleeding from the impact.
Referee Clos Gomez took the decision to suspend the match and the teams left the pitch with eighteen minutes of play still remaining.
The match had kicked-off in open fashion with González seeing his ferocious drive well kept out by Armando, before Yeste hit the post for Athletic inside the opening five minutes.
Yeste didn't have to wait long to get on the score-sheet as just three minutes later he latched onto Fernando Llorente's through ball and finished neatly past Ricardo to give Athletic the early advantage.
After such a pulsating opening it was perhaps inevitable that proceedings would taper off slightly and that proved to be the case, as Athletic were successfully able to prevent the home side creating opportunities in front of goal.
Betis started to see more of the ball as the half worn on and received a boost when the influential Yeste was taken off injured just past the half hour.
They got the equaliser with just under ten minutes remaining in the half: González latching onto Edu's cross and beating Armando at the second attempt after his initial effort had rebounded back off the woodwork.
Capi fired over the bar for Betis in first half stoppage time, as the sides went into the break level on the score-sheet and in possession of the football.
The home team continued their momentum from the end of the first period into the second, with Athletic doing their best to present a solid defensive wall for Betis to try and break down.
Betis did found a way through on the hour mark as González – who seemed to be at the heart of most of their attacking moves – headed just wide at the far post from another centre by the similarly impressive Edu.
Just as Betis were building up a head of steam, Athletic were given an opportunity to re-take the lead, when Juanito was adjudged to have felled Exteberria inside the area. Substitute López made no mistake from the spot, despite having to take the kick twice and Athletic were back in front with 25 minutes remaining.
The goal brought frustration from the home supporters and one took things too far when he threw a bottle at Armando, which struck the Athletic goalkeeper in the face, causing a cut.
Medics attended to the veteran goalkeeper, while Gomez deliberated with his fellow officials over what action to take. With Armando stretched off, the referee elected to take the teams off the field and suspend the match.
This incident could have a profound effect on Betis' season depending on how the Spanish Football Federation decide to act upon it, but for now it is likely that the three points will be awarded to Athletic.
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