Red-hot Simao praises “Atletico character”

Portuguese scores two and sets up two in epic match

After producing possibly his best performance in an Atletico Madrid shirt, Simao Sabrosa claimed that his side can be satisfied with their efforts after snatching a point in a remarkable 4-4 draw with Villarreal on Sunday.

The Portuguese scored a brace and set up the other two goals on the night, as Atletico threw away a two-goal half time lead, going down to ten men and conceding four times after the break, only to snatch an unlikely draw with two late goals at El Madrigal.

“It is difficult to explain what happened,” said the former Benfica man. “We made a good start, but the expulsion of Ever (Banega) weakened us. Villarreal scored quickly after half time and the match became complicated, but we showed character and we earned a point.”

Unstoppable shot

Atletico did indeed get off to a dream start, with Simao continuing his superb recent form, which has seen him score late goals against both Real Madrid and Liverpool, with the opener after just sixty seconds play. The Portuguese received the ball outside the area and let fly with an unstoppable drive which struck the underside of the crossbar before bouncing over the line.

Just twenty minutes in and it was two, with Simao this time turning provider for Diego Forlan. The Portuguese’s run on the left resulted in him cutting the ball back to Forlan, who produced a first-time finish with his left foot to mark a goalscoring return to his old club and give Atletico a lead they would hold until half time.

However, the dismissal of Argentine midfielder Ever Banega for two bookable offences seven minutes before the break would prove costly. Villarreal emerged from the break a more dangerous side, and within six minutes of the re-start had got themselves back on level terms through Marcos Senna and Joseba Llorente.

Three minutes before the hour and the home side took the lead, with Robert Pires picking out Argentine defender Gonzalo Rodriguez to convert from close-range, and Giuseppe Rossi looked to have made the game safe for Villarreal with a little over twenty minutes left to play with a well-taken effort.

Maniche frustration

Maniche, who started in midfield for Atletico, was substituted as his frustration at the turn of events saw him look dangerously close to getting a second yellow card, but the away side’s mentality soon changed and Javier Aguirre’s side stunned the home crowd with a late fight back.

Simao showed great pace and awareness to nick the ball past Gonzalo on the halfway line, before racing away from Diego Godin and coolly firing past Diego Lopez on 83 minutes. Less than two minutes later and Los Rojiblancos were back on level terms, as Simao’s excellent free-kick was headed home by Raul Garcia to give Simao’s men an unlikely share of the spoils.

“Clearly, in football, anything can happen and we’ve seen that in this match,” said Simao. “But the Atletico players gave everything to get this draw. We scored two goals with a player less and, at a stadium as difficult as this, we have managed a point and there is a lot of merit in that.

“My performance? I am a professional and I always want to help. My two goals helped the team, but nothing more. I am just one player in the group.”

Villarreal:
Diego Lopez, Javi Venta, Capdevilla, Godin, Gonzalo, Senna, Bruno, Pires (Fernandez, 81), Carzola (Cani, 70), Llorente, Rossi
Yellow Cards: Senna, Gonzalo

Atletico Madrid:
Leo Franco, Seitaridis (Antonio Lopez, 46), Heitinga, Dominguez, Pernia, Assuncao (Raul Garcia, 60), Banega, Maniche (De La Cuevas, 75), Maxi, Simao, Forlan
Yellow Cards: Simao, Banega (2), Maniche
Red Cards: Banega (36)

Goals:
[0-1] Simao, 1’
[0-2] Forlan, 21’
[1-2] Senna, 47’
[2-2] Llorente, 51’
[3-2] Gonzalo, 57’
[4-2] Rossi, 68’
[4-3] Simao, 83’
[4-4] Raul Garcia, 85’