Assunçao spares Betis blushes
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Article summary
Real Betis Balompié needed a late goal to draw at UDA Gramenet in their Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg.
Article body
By Andy Hall
Real Betis Balompié were forced to come from behind to snatch a 2-2 draw at UDA Gramenet in tonight's Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg with only a late Marcos Assunçao free-kick saving the Primera División side from defeat.
Early strikes
Third division Gramenet looked more comfortable on their artificial pitch in Santa Coloma, but the Catalan side surprisingly conceded an early goal as Fernando Fernández made no mistake with just the goalkeeper to beat in the 16th minute. However, a defensive error allowed the home side back into the game seven minutes later when Juanito Gutiérrez attempted a back pass but lobbed his own goalkeeper by mistake.
Assunçao on target
Oscar Ollés fired Gramenet into the lead on 52 minutes after an entertaining move but it was to prove insufficient. Fifteen minutes from time, Brazilian Assunçao curled in one of his trademark free-kicks to give Antonio Morales no chance, although it could have been even worse for the home side as Assunçao twice struck the crossbar with other efforts. Betis will nevertheless be in confident mood ahead of next week's return.
