Take Kubo’s 87th minute strike saw us overcome Athletic Bilbao 3-2 in emphatic style on Valentine’s Day at the Visit Mallorca Estadi.
Luis García Plaza named a largely unchanged side from the one which beat Cádiz 2-1 the week prior. The impressive Muriqi continued as the lone forward following his loan signing in January, while Take Kubo and Ángel joined flanked him in attack.
The visitors started the stronger side as we struggled to find our rhythm, which resulted in Rico having to make a number of saves during the opening exchanges.
We managed to win a penalty against the run of play in the 20th minute when Pablo Maffeo was tripped in the box. Salva Sevilla was handed spot-kick duties and made no mistake from 12 yards two minutes later.
Buoyed by our opener, we doubled our lead six minutes later when Muriqi rose highest to flick on a loose ball into the path of Àngel who produced an acrobatic volley into the bottom corner.
The six-minute double salvo gave us the lead come to the break as we remained in control for the remainder of the first half.
Athletic Bilbao were on the offensive upon the restart and managed to pull a goal back just before the hour mark when Raul García latched onto a driven cross and fired home.
Second-half substitute Alejandro Berenguer levelled matters two minutes by bundling a loose ball in the box from a corner past the outstretched Rico.
Our heads did not drop after the equaliser as we tried to restore our lead and we go our reward with three minutes remaining when Kubo poked home from close range after Muriqi had teed up the winger.
There were celebrations long into the night following our late winner as consecutive wins over the past fortnight gives us a six-point cushion away from the drop zone.
RCD Mallorca: Sergio Rico, Maffeo, Raíllo, Valjent, Oliván (J.Costa, min.89), Take Kubo (Batta.min.89), Ruiz de Galarreta (Gio, min.90), Salva Sevilla (Antonio Sánchez, min. 64), Dani Rodríguez, Ángel (Kang-in Lee, min. 73) y Muriqi.
Athletic Club: Unai Simón, Lekue, Unai Núñez (Berenguer, min. 46), Vivian, Balenciaga, Zárraga, Vesga (Petxarromán, min. 72), Dani García (Berchiche, min. 46), Muniain, Raúl García (Iñaki Williams, min. 72), Sancet (Villalibre, min. 72).
Goals: Salva Sevilla, 1-0 (22'); Ángel, 2-0 (29'); Raúl García, 2-2 (58'); Berenguer, 2-2 (60'); Take, 3-2 (87')
