Football United

Athletic Club Bilbao have every chance of progressing to the group stage of the UEFA Cup after collecting two away goals in a 3-2 defeat by Trabzonspor at the Hüseyin Avni Aker stadium.

Different complexion
Ziya Dogan's team went into the game sitting at the top of the Turkish Superleague following five consecutive domestic victories and had reason to believe the match was as good as settled after an own goal from Javi González and subsequent strikes by Mehmet Yilmaz and Gökdeniz Karadeniz gave the home side a 3-0 lead. Nevertheless, second-half goals from Carlos Gurpegui and Asier Del Horno entirely changed the complexion of the tie.

Misjudged clearance
Athletic began the game brightly. Captain Joseba Etxeberria made several penetrating runs down the flank during the opening stages and was disappointed his team-mates were unable to capitalise on his expert delivery into the box. There appeared no immediate danger from Trabzonspor but the Spanish side were to pay dearly for adjudging the match to be under control. They went behind in the 25th minute when Javi misjudged a clearance following a cross from the right and turned the ball into his own net.

Yilmaz strike
The visitors had barely assimilated the blow - which came against the run of play - when the home side doubled the lead two minutes later thanks to the quick thinking of Mehmet, who latched on to a rebound which goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia was unable to gather.

Basque determination
The home side were coasting at the start of the second period, content to preserve their lead, but when Gökdeniz struck the third goal in the 69th minute, expertly taking the ball around Aranzubia, there appeared to be no way back. However, Basque teams are characterised by their determination and this Athletic outfit appears to be no different.

Strong position
First, Gurpegui latched on to a loose ball and rifled it into the far corner in the 73rd minute and then, seven minutes later, Del Horno found himself totally unmarked inside the box and powerfully headed in a well-placed free-kick. The away goals mean Athletic can afford to be confident ahead of the return leg at San Mamés on 30 September.

Source: uefa.com