Eibar, Levante play 4-4 draw in La Liga thriller

Eibar and Levante on Sunday played to a 4-4 draw in a thrilling La Liga match held at the Ipurua Municipal Stadium.

As usual, Eibar kicked off the game in strong fashion, putting their opponent under suffocating pressure, while Levante weathered the early storm waiting for an opportunity for the counter-attack, reports Efe.

Levante could have taken the lead in the early going on one of these counter-attacks, but left winger Jose Luis Morales' shot was not precise.

It seemed like Levante would pay for the missed opportunity as Eibar took the lead in the 8th minute, when forward Sergi Enrich headed home off a cross by left back Jose Angel Valdes.

The electric start to the game continued as Morales redeemed himself, drawing Levante level one minute later.

Eibar continued to dictate the rhythm, although Levante's counter-attacks remained a headache for the home side that could have cost them a second goal, but goalkeeper Asier Riesgo prevented Morales from notching again against his former team.

Still, it was only a matter of time before Levante took the lead for the first time in the 25th minute on a close-range shot.

The home side did not lose hope and sought the equalizer though failed to pose a real danger on Levante's goal.

Levante maintained its lead until the end of the first half, as both teams created and squandered several scoring chances.

After the intermission, Eibar was in no mood to waste time as Argentine midfielder Gonzalo Escalante drew his team level on a header off a cross by right winger Ruben Peña in the 56th minute.

Escalante's goal was a turning point, as Eibar proceeded to take a 4-2 lead on a brace by Brazilian forward Charles Dias de Oliveira, best known as Charles, over a four-minute stretch.

Charles was awarded a penalty kick and he successfully converted from the 12-yard spot, before he struck again on a right-footed shot four minutes after the one-hour mark.

It appeared that Eibar was all but the winner, but Levante had a whole 25 minute ahead to stage yet another comeback.

It was left back Antonio Garcia Aranda, best known as Toño, who narrowed the gap in the 74th minute, notching Levante's 500th La Liga goal.

One minute into the second-half stoppage time, Mayoral rounded off Levante's comeback on a close-range shot that found the back of the net.

After the draw, Eibar provisionally holds the 13th spot in La Liga's standings with 19 points on goal differential behind Real Betis, while Levante is 6th with 22 points, pending the remaining results of the weekend.

--IANS

gau/sed