Tenerife 1-0 Athletic Bilbao

A solid Tenerife performance saw them put an end to Athletic Bilbao's perfect start to the Primera Division season as the visitors paid the price for rotating the squad.

Mikel Alonso scored the only goal of the game three minutes from time to give the Islanders a deserved win against a disappointing Athletic side,

Visiting coach Joaquin Caparros (pictured right) made a number of changes to the side who had made it three wins out of three at the weekend.

And the new-look team were lucky not to lose by a lot more as their hosts wasted a sackful of first-half opportunities.

Tenerife had won their only other home game this season, against Osasuna, and they were almost gifted the lead right at the start of their second.

Gorka Iraizoz's weak goal kick fell straight to Alfaro but, fortunately for the Athletic goalkeeper, the Tenerife striker shot straight into his hands.

Athletic slowly began to come into the game and could have gone in front in the 14th minute but Igor Gabilondo blazed over the bar from just inside the area.

Tenerife should have taken the lead shortly before the half-hour mark as they failed to take advantage of several golden opportunities.

First Nino somehow managed to fire over the bar from six yards before Iraizoz pulled off a decent save to deny Roman and did even better seconds later to prevent the hosts from scoring from the resulting corner.

Nino did have the ball in the back of the net moments later but the goal was rightly ruled out for offside.

The striker, who finished as top goalscorer in the Segunda Division last season, had yet another chance in the 32nd minute but again he blazed over the bar before firing straight at Iraizoz seconds later.

Athletic were hardly to be seen but they had a rare opportunity 10 minutes before half-time when Markel Susaeta saw his low shot saved by Sergio Aragoneses.

The hosts should have got the goal their first-half performance merited three minutes from the break as Alfaro forced his way into the penalty area before unleashing a stunning volley but Iraizoz pulled off an equally brilliant save to keep the scores level.

Tenerife started the second half much in the same way they had ended the first and could have been ahead moments after the restart but Iraizoz was on hand yet again to punch clear Alfaro's 20-yard effort .

However, Athletic must have received a real ear-bashing at half-time from Caparros as they managed to shore it up somewhat at the back and did not allow Tenerife as many opportunities, although their hosts were still controlling the match.

Alfaro came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock in the 81st minute as he found himself alone in front of goal but his header missed the post by a whisker.

It looked as if all Tenerife's hard work was set to come to nothing but three minutes from time Alfaro picked out a completely unmarked Alonso at the far post and the 29-year-old headed home from close range.

Gaizka Toquero could have levelled matters in stoppage time but Aragoneses, who had been a spectator for most of the evening, did well to keep out his acrobatic overhead kick and Tenerife held on for a deserved three points.