The former Spain international converted a 65th minute penalty to give his side all three points that leaves them a place above the relegation places, but with much more breathing space after rivals Real Sociedad were beaten 2-0 at Osasuna.

The win for Jose Manuel 'Mane' Esnal's team mean they now have a four point gap over their Basque rivals with just two games remaining - against Villarreal and Levante.

Prior to the game, Athletic had failed to win any of their last five outings and fallen into serious danger of dropping into the bottom three.

Their last win came on April 15 with a 2-1 scoreline against Espanyol, but have now been handed a lifeline by Urzaiz.

After a quiet opening, Mallorca created the first real threat when a 10th-minute free-kick by Ariel Ibagaza picked out Casadesus Victor, whose powerful header was slightly wide.

Three minutes later, a corner from Francisco Yeste at the other end caused some confusion in the visitors' box before a commanding punch from Miguel Moya averted the danger.

The visitors again came close shortly Victor's well-struck 20-yard strike drifting to Daniel Aranzubia's right.

In the 35th minute, the first real tester for either goalkeeper arrived when Moya needed to be at his best to finger-tip away a tricky corner from Yeste that almost drifted in.

And at the other end, Aranzubia found Gutierrez Jonas' shot 18-yard effort easy to handle as the teams went in level after a half that lacked any real cutting edge.

Immediately after the restart, the ever-present Yeste teased Moya with another fluent free-kick, before Mane threw on Urzaiz in the 53rd minute to try and change the game.

However, Mallorca responded by themselves pouring forward and Ariel Ibagaza and Victor both shot from outside of the penalty area to try and beat the commanding Aranzubia, who was equal to the challenge on both occasions.

Then came Urzaiz's moment after Jose Carlos Nunes brought down Aritz Aduriz in the penalty area leaving the referee no option but to award a spot-kick, which the striker duly converted.

Jonas wasted two good chances for the visitors shortly after - spooning his first over, before shooting wide from 12 yards - while substitute Bosko Jankovic was also wayward with his effort as Mallorca sought an equaliser.

That forced the home team to sit back and the only chance they had in the final minutes was a shot from close-range, hit wide by a wasteful Gomez Javi Gonzalez, while Gregorio Manzano's team lacked any creativity as they came away empty-handed.