Morata’s late goal gives Atlético an essential victory in La Liga

It took just over three minutes for Alvaro Morata and his Atlético Madrid team mates to celebrate the striker’s important victory against Girona in La Liga.

Morata’s goal early in the second half in extra time on Monday was only confirmed after a lengthy video review, but it was ultimately counted out to give Atlético a 1-0 victory and the only possession of third place.

Atletico entered the match level on points with Real Sociedad, who drew Sunday 1-1 with Mallorca. Diego Simeone’s team is still eight points behind second-placed Real Madrid, and 17 behind league leaders Barcelona.

Morata scored from close range, after advancing towards the far post after a corner kick taken by Antoine Griezmann. The ball deflected into the area before Morata could reach it near the goal line. The assistant raised the flag for offside, but the goal stood in the end after it was confirmed by the video assistant referee.

Morata said his teammates were upset with him at first because it looked like the ball could have gone in even if he hadn’t touched it.

“It was obvious to me, but if they don’t confirm it, I guess I’ll have to go home on a bike,” he said.

“My teammates(s) got mad at me for touching it. But I didn’t know if it was going in or not. So just in case I had to finish the play. It was hard to see the ball there and not push it in.”

And Atletico celebrated its sixth victory in the last eight league matches, with two draws, and hosted Valencia, which is threatened with the next relegation.

This is the second consecutive loss for Girona, which maintains 12th place, four points above the relegation zone, with a visit next to Rayo Vallecano, who is seventh.