A dramatic finale between Levante and Valencia as they came to a draw

Valencia was held to a 1-1 home draw by Levante in La Liga after the visitors leveled up eight minutes into stoppage time with a VAR-awarded penalty kick on Friday.

Gonzalo Melero converted the last gasp penalty kick to cancel out Rodrigo’s late opener as Europe ticket-chasing Valencia stayed seventh on 43 points from 28 games.

The result left Levante in 12th position with 34 points.

Earlier, Granada beat Getafe 2-1 on the second day of play in La Liga after a three-month break due to the COVID-19 crisis.

The lack of recent play made for a slow start at Mestalla, but Valencia dominated and was left to rue missed opportunities at halftime.

They had the clearest chance when Carlos Soler’s shot crashed onto the crossbar in the 29th minute.

Valencia came close again as Mouctar Diakhaby’s header hit the post on the stroke of half-time.

The game finally sprung into life in the late stages.

After Levante’s Roger Marti was sent off for a second yellow card in the 74th minute, Valencia went ahead one minute from time when Rodrigo fired home from inside the box.

But Diakhaby brought down Ruben Vezo to bring about a dramatic finale.

What referee Javier Alberola Rojas thought was a free-kick just outside the area, was turned into a penalty kick, which Melero coolly converted, by the VAR.

 

 

 

NAN