Athletic earn slender advantage

By Andy Hall

Two goals in six second-half minutes helped Athletic Club Bilbao to a 3-2 Copa del Rey quarter-final first-leg win against Real Valladolid, although Aritz Aduritz's late penalty could prove vital for the visitors.

Early opener
As expected, the second division side spent the opening minutes sitting back and waiting for their opportunity. Their plan paid off as early as the eighth minute when the home defence were caught out by a right-wing cross which Iñaki Hurtado turned past Iñaki Lafuente at the far post.

Del Horno delight
Athletic were dealt a second blow when key midfielder Francisco Yeste was forced to limp off through injury 15 minutes in. However, the Primera División outfit responded well to the double setback and soon drew level through Asier Del Horno's powerful long-range strike.

Quick goals
The Basque team largely controlled the match thereafter, but without managing a second breakthrough. That all changed in a six-minute spell late in the game, however, as Santiago Ezquerro rose to head in a Tiko centre on 74 minutes before Andoni Iraola converted a penalty five minutes later after Rafa López had handled.

Vital penalty
Valladolid, though, responded quickly and came back into the match, and the contest, three minutes from time. Aduritz made no mistake from the penalty spot, to leave the tie intriguingly poised ahead of next week's second leg.