Williams’ form rebounds for Bilbao
After disappointing AFCON, Ghana forward’s extra-time goal keeps Spanish club on course for Copa
MADRID — Inaki Williams scored in extra time on the same day he returned from Ghana’s early elimination in the Africa Cup to lead Athletic Bilbao to a 4-2 win over Barcelona and a spot in the Copa del Rey semifinals.
Williams came off the bench near the hour mark on Wednesday, two days after Ghana’s last match in Cote d’Ivoire. He scored off the rebound of his own shot into the post in the 107th minute. His younger brother, Nico Williams, then sealed the victory in stoppage time, sending Athletic to the last four for the fifth straight season.
“Not even in the best of dreams did I see this coming,” Inaki said.
“Everything went perfectly today. Yesterday, I couldn’t imagine being here after a very hard blow (Ghana’s elimination).
“I have to thank the club for helping me to get back as soon as possible and the fans for embracing me the way they did.”
It was another tough blow for Barcelona, which was looking to make it to the Copa semifinals for the second straight season. Earlier this month, the Catalan club missed out on another title when it lost 4-1 to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia.
Barcelona was eliminated by Athletic in extra time in the round of 16 of the Copa in 2022.
Athletic finished runner-up in 2019-20 and 2020-21, and was eliminated in the semifinals by Osasuna in 2023 and Valencia in 2022. The Basque Country club last won the competition in 1984.
Inaki Williams started on the bench after arriving in Spain the morning of the match between the two most successful clubs in the Copa — Barcelona has 31 titles and Athletic 23.
The 29-year-old forward entered the match in the 59th minute and didn’t waste his chance in extra time, finding the net from close range after his initial attempt from inside the area struck the post.
The son of Ghanaian parents who moved to Spain before he was born, Inaki Williams had a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations, with Ghana failing to make it past the group stage. He didn’t score any goals as Ghana returned home after a loss and two draws.
It was an open match at San Mames Stadium, with both teams having significant scoring chances.
Teenager Lamine Yamal had a golden chance to score Barcelona’s winner in regulation time when he found himself one-on-one with Athletic goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala in the 86th minute. However, after dribbling past Agirrezabala, he missed the open net from inside the area.
“When you have a single-elimination game on the road, it’s difficult to win,” Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said. “It’s how it goes in the Copa.
“I am calm, the most important titles remain,” Xavi told TVE, referring to La Liga and the Champions League, where Barca will play Napoli in the last 16. “We tried. I think we competed well against a great team who are very strong at home. I said when it finished as a draw that we were unlucky. We had the winning goal with Lamine’s chances, but we can be proud that we tried.”
Athletic took the lead with a goal by Gorka Guruzeta a minute into the match.
The visitors rallied with Robert Lewandowski scoring in the 26th and Yamal in the 32nd, after a nice run by the 16-year-old forward. Lewandowski’s goal was a fortuitous one, as the ball ricocheted off his leg while a defender tried to clear it from in front of the net.
Athletic evened the match with a header by Oihan Sancet in the 49th.
Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde had to be replaced only 23 minutes into the match because of an apparent muscle injury.
Athletic, sitting fifth in the Spanish league, had won six straight games in all competitions before losing 1-0 at Valencia in the league on Saturday.
Barcelona, third in the Spanish league, had won six of its last seven matches across all tournaments.
Girona eliminated
Spanish league leader Girona lost 3-2 to Mallorca and missed its chance to reach the semifinals of the Copa for the first time.
The host was up 3-0 by the 35th minute thanks to goals by Cyle Larin, Abdon Prats and Antonio Raillo. Girona scored with Cristhian Stuani in the 68th and Savinho in stoppage time.
Girona played a man down from the 67th after Raillo was sent off after receiving consecutive yellow cards for a foul that led to a penalty, and then for complaining to the referee about the decision.
Girona last made it to the Copa quarterfinals in 2019.
Mallorca is back in the last four for the first time since 2009, when it was eliminated by eventual champion Barcelona.
On Tuesday, Real Sociedad beat Celta Vigo 2-1 to reach the semifinals for the first time since winning the competition four seasons ago.