After scoring a very powerful purpose of his youth profession, Nico Williams acquired an extended hug from his older brother, veteran ahead Inaki Williams.
In the stands of Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd Stadium, their family additionally hugged one another, unable to carry again tears.
After the ultimate whistle, Nico Williams and his older brother hurriedly headed to the stands to satisfy him.
It was an enormous second for the Williams household, as Nico’s purpose secured a 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid on Thursday and despatched Athletic Bilbao to a second consecutive Spanish Super Cup remaining.
“I went to visit my mom, she was very shaken, and so was I,” mentioned 19-year-old Nico Williams. “She said I deserve it, told me to work harder. The hug with my brother was unforgettable for both of us. We had always dreamed about this moment.”
Nico Williams gained the Athletic within the 81st after defender Yere Alvarez equalized the match within the 77th. Atletico took the lead within the 62nd match with an personal purpose.
The Basque Country Club will play the decider on Sunday in opposition to Real Madrid, who beat Barcelona 3-2 in further time on Wednesday. Athletic gained the title final yr within the remaining in opposition to Barcelona in Sevilla.
It was one other blow to Diego Simeone’s Atletico, who’ve been performing poorly within the Spanish league and are unlikely to defend their title.
Nico Williams scored his first two objectives for Athletic in a Copa del Rey match final week. He and his brother, who’s 27 years previous, are the one black gamers on the membership which historically solely indicators athletes from the Basque Country area. He was born in Spain to Liberian dad and mom who fled the struggle in Africa within the Nineteen Nineties.
Athletic will attempt to win a Super Cup title for the primary time in a row. Its final win within the competitors earlier than final yr was in 2015, when it additionally defeated Barcelona within the remaining.
Atletico had been searching for their first Super Cup remaining since 2020, once they misplaced to rivals Madrid within the first version of the competitors to be performed in Saudi Arabia.
The Spanish Super Cup returned to the Middle East nation after the coronavirus pandemic pressured final yr’s match to be performed in Spain. The competitors was moved to Saudi Arabia _ and expanded from two to 4 groups in a “Final Four” format _ as a part of a deal reportedly value 30 million euros ($34 million) a yr till 2029 Was.
The choice to play the Spanish match in Saudi Arabia was criticized by human rights activists and followers, who most well-liked the competitors to those that stayed in Spain. Among these complaining was athletic midfielder Raul GarcÃa, who mentioned there was “no point” in taking part in video games away from Spain through the week.
In stark distinction to Wednesday’s thriller between Madrid and Barcelona, ​​each groups struggled within the assault and created few scoring alternatives.
Atletico took Felix’s header after hitting the publish with a nook kick and bounced off Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simon’s again and simply barely crossed the road.
Athletic got here near equalizing two minutes later when Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak intercepted Alvarez’s close-range header on the purpose line. The defender did not miss his second try, sending the ball into the nook and operating away from the Atletico goalkeeper.
Nico Williams created the winner with a brief shot from shut vary after Atletico did not go a cross contained in the protection zone.
“We were doing well until their first goal,” Simeon mentioned. “It was a deserved victory for them.”
Atlético misplaced midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia to an harm early within the second half, and defender Jose MarÃa Jiménez was dismissed in stoppage time after his excessive kick inside the realm hit an opponent’s head.
Atletico have began the season effectively however have struggled not too long ago. It has misplaced 4 of its final six Spanish league video games and is 16 factors behind leaders Madrid with a recreation in hand.
Even worse was Athletic’s wrestle within the league, successful solely two of their final 12 matches within the competitors. It sits mid-table simply after midway by way of.
Atlético certified for the Super Cup as Spanish champions, whereas Athletic made it to the Copa del Rey as runners-up. She misplaced final yr’s remaining to Barcelona.
Simeone was manipulating some formations within the assault, however opted to launch the assault with Felix and Angel Correa, leaving Luis Suarez and Matthias Cunha on the bench. Both got here into the match within the second half however didn’t contribute a lot.
The 62,000-capacity King Fahd Stadium had restricted crowds on account of restrictions impressed by the coronavirus pandemic.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
