Osasuna stun Athletic to reach Copa final
Pablo Ibanez's superb volley helped Osasuna stun Athletic Bilbao in extra-time to reach the Copa del Rey final with a 1-1 draw on Tuesday, progressing 2-1 on aggregate.
Athletic dominated throughout and only a sensational display from Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera and profligate finishing forced the match to extra-time.
Inaki Williams struck in the 33rd minute to cancel out Ez Abde's first-leg strike for Osasuna, but Athletic could not find a winner, and Ibanez stroked home from the edge of the box with four minutes remaining to shock San Mames.
Ibanez's effort helped Osasuna reach the Copa del Rey final for the first time in 18 years, and only for the second time in their history, with the club yet to lift the trophy.
Jagoba Arrasate's side beat Real Betis and Sevilla on their spectacular cup run and will face either record winners Barcelona or Spanish and European champions Real Madrid in the final on May 6.
"Right now, I have no words, we were suffering like dogs all through the game," Ibanez told Movistar.
"(This goal) is for all those fans up there shouting, it's something that can't be explained.
"We knew that it could happen, that they could score against us. We suffered, we kept working and in the end we got our reward.
"Now that we are here we have to dream and go for it. I don't care if it's Madrid or Barca, we'll keep dreaming."
Both of their previous cup games went to extra-time, along with their round of 32 clash with Gimnastic, in which Ibanez was sent off.
Athletic have reached the semi-finals four seasons in a row, but have not lifted the trophy since 1984. They have lost six finals since their last triumph.
"We had so many chances for the result to go our way, but in football sometimes these things happen," said Inaki Williams.
"We're very sad, messed up, we will try and pick our heads up and come back."
Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde selected Iker Muniain in attacking midfield, with Oihan Sancet deployed slightly deeper, instead of Dani Garcia, as the hosts sought to turn the tie around.
The game kicked off with a 10-minute delay after Osasuna's coach was held outside the stadium for over half an hour because of overcrowding.
Backed by their vociferous fans, Athletic started well and Herrera denied Gorka Guruzeta.
Nico Williams dragged a shot narrowly wide of the near post after 25 minutes as Valverde's side continued to push, with Herrera parrying Oscar de Marcos's header.
Eventually Inaki Williams opened the scoring after 33 minutes, staying onside to cleverly divert home Mikel Vesga's header from point-blank range.
It was his first goal since October for Athletic, ending a run of 18 matches without scoring, statistically his worst ever stretch at the club.
The Ghana striker converted again shortly before the break, but this time he was offside as he stretched to reach his brother Nico's cross.
With 20 minutes remaining Inaki fed Nico, who should have scored at the end of an electric break, but fired over the bar leaving Athletic fans howling.
The Basque side set a record home attendance of over 51,500, and they were left frustrated again when Herrera saved well from Inigo Martinez at his near post.
That feeling only grew as Herrera denied Raul Garcia and Nico Williams slashed the rebound high into the stands with the goal gaping.
Osasuna clung on for extra-time, with their backs to the wall and reliant on their goalkeeper.
Chimy Avila fired over for the visitors on a rare foray forward near the end of the first period of extra-time. If it was a warning, it was not heeded.
With the game heading for penalties, Jon Moncayola crossed and Ibanez took on a first-time volley which flew into the top corner and earned Osasuna a historic victory.
It was their first goal since Abde's first-leg strike on March 1.
Barcelona host Real Madrid in the second semi-final on Wednesday, holding a 1-0 lead
(责任编辑:资讯)
- 10 Big Misconceptions About Computer Hardware
- Samsung unveils the stylish Galaxy Watch, with an emphasis on fitness
- South Korea 'reevaluates' opening of inter
- 广东援疆护航“疆品南下”,63家喀什和兵团三师企业亮相广交会
- 共同推动雅安职工思想政治引领数智化发展工作做深做实
- Pragmocracy Now
- Samsung is betting its future on Bixby, but that might be a bad idea
- [Newsmaker] Court mulls arrest warrants for 3 Industry Ministry officials over closure of Wolsong
- Sheldry Topp went to prison when he was 17 in 1962. It’s time to let him go free.
- Value Judgment
- 猕猴桃花开 授粉正当时
- Today's Impeach
- Samsung unveils the stylish Galaxy Watch, with an emphasis on fitness
-
How to watch 'Kinds of Kindness': When is it streaming?
Table of ContentsTable of ContentsThe best streaming deals to watch 'Kinds of Kindness':BEST FOR NEW ...[详细] -
Police investigate cause of deadly fire at Gunpo apartment
Forensic officials inspect a gutted apartment unit in Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province, on Wednesday. A fire ...[详细] -
S. Korea confirms highly pathogenic avian influenza case from wild birds
A quarantine official bans the entry of automobiles into a farm in Sangju, 270 km southeast of Seoul ...[详细] -
雅安日报/北纬网讯 昨4)日,市政协党组书记、主席杨承一主持召开市政协党组扩大)会议,传达学习市委四届二次全会精神。会议指出,要围绕市委四届二次全会确定的重点工作,充分发挥政协参政议政、建言献策的作用 ...[详细]
-
中山古镇:到苏炳添家乡看“村BA”,来一场说走就走的美食之旅
中山古镇:到苏炳添家乡看“村BA”,来一场说走就走的美食之旅_南方+_南方plus小到客厅、卧室、厨房,大到去商超购物、博物馆参观,甚至是在体育馆看一场演唱会……总有一盏点亮你生活的灯,来自这里。中国 ...[详细] -
一手拿着竹签,竹签的另一头裹着棉花,轻轻在花蕊上一点……这就是猕猴桃花人工授粉的基本技巧。目前,我市中高山地区猕猴桃花正值盛开,为了增加收成,种植户们抢抓花期,对猕猴桃花进行人工授粉。近日,芦山县飞仙 ...[详细]
-
NYT’s Peter Baker on what it’s like to interview Donald Trump.
President Trump’s blockbuster interview with theNew York Timesthis week displayed a commander in chi ...[详细] -
South Korea 'reevaluates' opening of inter
South Korea will re-evaluate the opening of a joint liaison office with North Korea, a presidential ...[详细] -
What to expect from Apple's September event: iPhone 16, Apple Watch 10, and more
Apple's big September event is fast approaching, bringing us all the latest gadget goodies from the ...[详细] -
Hubble photo shows what a side view of the Milky Way might look like
We may never leave our Milky Way galaxy and see it from the outside, but the Hubble Space Telescope ...[详细]
- Pakistan to host South Africa before ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
- Unification ministry welcomes passage of anti
- [Newsmaker] Not just students being examined as Suneung puts ‘K
- It’s shocking that Jeff Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation.
- First officially approved Gen IV nuclear reactor in the US breaks ground
- It’s shocking that Jeff Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation.
- 紧盯目标抓落实 增强群众的幸福感