FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v Girona - Civitas Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - August 25, 2024 Girona's Paulo Gazzaniga reacts after Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann scored their first goal REUTERS/Isabel Infantes/File Photo
(Reuters) -Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga saved two penalties, including one that had to be retaken, before striker Cristhian Stuani scored from the spot deep in stoppage time as they beat visitors Athletic Bilbao 2-1 in LaLiga on Sunday.
Girona sit a provisional 11th in the standings with 12 points from nine matches, while Bilbao are sixth with 14 points.
Alex Berenguer's penalty was saved in the first half and Bilbao's luck from the spot got worse after the break as Inaki Williams' effort was also stopped but had to be retaken as Gazzaniga's feet were off the line.
Ander Herrera stepped up for the retake, but his effort was also saved by the Argentine keeper.
"I'm happy for the three points the team got. I don't remember another match like this," Gazzaniga said.
"Again, I would like to highlight the work of the team because without them it wouldn't have been possible.
"We were studying the penalties with the goalkeeping coach and this time it worked out well."
Girona defender Arnau Martinez tripped Berenguer inside the box in the 26th minute. Berenguer stepped up to take the penalty but the Spanish winger's tame effort was saved by Gazzaniga.
Bilbao were immediately punished when Colombian midfielder Yaser Asprilla put Girona ahead in the 39th minute, sending a dangerous left-foot cross from outside the box into the bottom corner past goalkeeper Alex Padilla.
But the home side's lead lasted only two minutes before Oihan Sancet equalised with a close-range shot after picking up Berenguer's through ball to beat Gazzaniga. However, Sancet was forced off soon after scoring due to an injury.
Just as the game seemed headed for a draw, Bilbao defender Aitor Paredes fouled Ladislav Krejci, giving away a penalty which Stuani converted in the 99th minute to seal all three points for the hosts and end a four-match LaLiga winless run.
Paredes was also sent off for a second yellow card.
"There are no excuses, we missed three penalties. I plead absolutely guilty, we can't miss three penalties. This can't happen in Primera," Williams said.
(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Davis and Ken Ferris)
