PARIS: Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid set up an all-SpanishEuropa League final on Thursday as La Liga found some solace afterthe Champions League misery suffered by Barcelona and Real Madrid. Athletic reached their first European final in 35 years when theygrabbed a winner two minutes from time to beat Sporting Lisbon 3-1in their semi-final second leg for a 4-3 aggregate. Fernando Llorente scored the crucial goal just as the tie washeading for extra-time when he bundled a cross from Ibai Gomez overthe line and past Rui Patricio in the Portuguese goal. In the May 9 final in Bucharest they will face 2010 winnersAtletico who beat countrymen Valencia 1-0 for a 5-2 aggregate win. Just like they had done in the first leg, Athletic went in frontagainst Sporting with a goal after 17 minutes at their San Mameshome which took them level on aggregate, but ahead on away goals. Iker Muniain crossed from the right, the dangerous Llorente chestedthe ball back, and Markel Susaeta was on hand to volley the ballpast Patricio. The Portuguese were level on the night a minute before half-timewhen Ricky van Wolfswinkel's left-footed shot beat Gorka Iraizoz inthe Athletic goal. But in time added-on at the end of the first half, Ibai Gomez madeit 2-1 on the night to the Spanish side, and 3-3 on aggregate, whenhe was set up by the impressive Llorente before beating Patricio. Midway through the second half, both sides hit the woodwork. Athletic's Javi Martinez crashed a header off the crossbar beforeformer Liverpool player Emiliano Insua sent a drive past Iraizozbut off the post. As the tie headed towards extra-time, Llorente found the target toput Athletic into a first European final since 1977. In Valencia, the home side, who had played in the Champions Leagueearlier in the season, mounted a series of attacks against AtleticoMadrid in an effort to reduce their 4-2 first leg aggregatedeficit. On the half-hour mark, Spanish international Roberto Soldado got onthe end of an Antonio Barragan cross, but his drive just went thewrong side of Thibaut Courtois' goal. Five minutes before the interval, Sergio Canales shot low and hardbut Courtois smothered the danger. Valencia continued to press after the interval, and they werefinally caught on the break on the hour mark as Atletico, thechampions in 2010, put the tie to bed. Adrian Lopez controlled a long pass on his chest and then hit ithigh into the far corner past Diego Alves in goal. His strike came just moments after Valencia's Canales had beenstretchered off in tears at the Mestalla. In the 80th minute, Atletico skipper Tiago was sent off for a foulon Soldado and will miss the final. - AFP/de. I am an expert from iphoneoemparts.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Touch Screen Phone Repairs , China HTC LCD Digitizer, Apple IPad Repairs,and more.
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