A late finish from Borja Viguera has rescued travelling Athletic Bilbao as they drew 1-1 with Alcoyano in the first leg of their last-32 Copa del Rey fixture this evening.
Bilbao looked to be the more threatening of the two sides in the opening stages, as Ibai Gomez went close with an effort from distance that evaded the left post by a matter of inches.
The home side continued to come under the cosh and Athletic were almost ahead again, this time as Ager Aketxe sent a free kick whistling just over Nacho Zabal's crossbar.
Having held resolute in the early exchanges, Alcoyano were rewarded in the 32nd minute when Alfaro picked out Markel Susaeta, who converted coolly from the centre of the box with his left.
The visitors searched for an equaliser in the second half and they were almost rewarded, but Gomez saw his drive expertly saved by Zabal, before Alcoyano's Israel Jerez almost doubled their lead with a stinging effort that flew agonisingly past the post.
The miss was to prove vital as Bilbao came back to grab an all-important goal in stoppage time when Viguera drilled into the bottom corner after he was picked out by Gomez's headed pass.
Christopher Dodd
