Late equaliser secures a point

Real Sociedad earned a 1–1 draw against Celta this evening at Balaídos. After playing the entire second half with a numerical advantage, the txuri-urdin salvaged a valuable point late in the game through a Carlos Soler header.

The visitors created the first clear chance when Oyarzabal failed to make solid contact with a Sergio Gómez cross. However, a swift counterattack allowed Durán to put the home side ahead. Shortly before halftime, Yangel Herrera’s header went just wide from a corner. Moments later, Oyarzabal came close again, but his effort was deflected for a corner by a defender  when the goal already seemed certain. The hosts were reduced to ten men in the final action of the first half, giving Real Sociedad extra hope for the second period.

The txuri urdin began the second half strongly, with a goal ruled out for offside by mere millimetres and several dangerous approaches. Barrene forced a fine save from the goalkeeper after another precise cross from Sergio. Persistent attacking finally paid off when Soler met a Guedes cross with a decisive header into the back of the net.

Real Sociedad take a hard-fought point from Balaídos in dramatic fashion. Next up: Sevilla at Anoeta, where they’ll look to turn this draw into a win.

Match sheet:

RC Celta de Vigo: Radu, Starfelt (cap), Javi Rodríguez, Marcos Alonso, Mingueza (Javi Rueda, min.54), Carreira, Moriba, Sotelo (Domínguez, min.46), Durán, Ferrán (El-Abdellaoui, min.70) and Borja Iglesias (Álvarez, min.54).

Real Sociedad: Remiro, Aramburu (Zakharyan, min.76), Zubeldia, Ćaleta-Car, Aihen (Guedes, min.67), Sergio Gómez, Herrera (Marín, min.57), Gorrotxa, Brais Méndez (Soler, min.67), Barrene (Karrikaburu, min.76) and Oyarzabal (cap).

Goals: 1-0: Durán, min.20; 1-1: C. Soler, min.89.

Referee: Juan Martínez. Booked Javi Rueda and Moriba for Celta de Vigo and Sergio Gómez, Zubeldia and Herrera for Real Sociedad. Starfelt was dismissed for the home side in the 45th minute.