Sporting Lisbon scored twice in the last 15 minutes to overturn a deficit against Athletic Bilbao and earn themselves a narrow lead to take across the Iberian peninsula for the second leg of their Europa League semi-final.
Athletic, looking for their first major trophy since 1984, took a 54th-minute lead through Jon Aurtenetxe but Sporting drew level through Emiliano Insúa before the impressive Diego Capel – a Spain international – drilled home the match-winner 10 minutes from time to punish his countrymen.
The Portuguese side pushed hard for a third goal late on but Athletic managed to keep them out to leave the tie nicely poised ahead of next week's second leg in the Basque country.
Both sides looked keen to attack throughout the first half but neither goalkeeper was seriously troubled as the period finished goalless. Sporting settled the quicker and Insúa drew an early save out of the Athletic goalkeeper, Gorka Iraizoz, before Ricky van Wolfswinkel fired just wide.
Athletic's first decent opportunity arrived in the 12th minute and really should have resulted in the opening goal of the game but the unmarked Fernando Llorente powered his header from Markel Susaeta's corner over the crossbar.
Athletic sought a valuable away goal but Sporting were looking dangerous on the break and twice came close following lightning-fast counterattacks. The first saw João Pereira drive in a rising shot from the edge of the box which appeared to strike the outside of a post, although Iraizoz looked to have it covered. Then, moments after Van Wolfswinkel had seen a 20-yard effort go just wide, Sporting broke away again but Stijn Schaars, after being set up by Capel, fluffed his lines
Sporting threatened first at the start of the second half but, after Insua had seen his cross-shot parried by Iraizoz, it was Athletic who took the lead.
Susaeta curled in a free-kick from the right and after Insúa had failed to cut the ball out – slicing his attempted clearance behind him instead of away from danger – the defender Aurtenetxe slotted in at the far post.
It could have got even worse for Sporting five minutes later as Athletic hit the woodwork, Fernando Amorebieta latching on to a loose ball inside the area to drive in a shot that struck the inside of a post before staying out.
At that stage it looked like Athletic would be left with the advantage for their return to San Mamés but Sporting staged a superb fightback. Van Wolfswinkel spurned a great chance to equalise in the 69th minute when he glanced a header wide from close range but within six minutes of that miss the home side were on level terms.
Insúa was the quickest to react to a bouncing ball in the Athletic area to guide a header just inside the far post. Buoyed by that goal, Sporting started to pressure the Athletic defence and it was 2-1 four minutes later when Capel drilled in a low 25-yard shot that fizzed into the near corner.
The substitute Bruno Pereirinha, having replaced Capel, should have made it 3-1 in the 84th minute but curled just wide from the near the penalty spot as Athletic survived a late onslaught to limit the damage. Read More
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