Bilbao beats Valladolid 3-2 in Copa quarters

Madrid:

Santi Ezquerro and Andoni Iraola scored second-half goals to help Athletic Bilbao edge second-division Valladolid 3-2 in the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarterfinals. Valladolid, which upset Real Madrid in the previous round, took the lead at Bilbao's San Mames stadium on a goal by Inaki Hurtado in the eighth minute, but left back Asier Del Horno equalized 10 minutes later. After the goals by Ezquerro and Iraola in the 73rd and 79th minutes, Aritz Aduriz converted a penalty with three minutes remaining to give the visitors hope of reaching the last four of Spain's knockout competition. Valladolid's Inaki took just eight minutes to stun the home team by angling his shot past goalkeeper Inaki Lafuente after Bilbao's defence had failed to clear a cross. After losing influential midfielder Fran Yeste because of an injury in the 12th minute, Bilbao equalized six minutes later on Del Horno's shot from just outside the area. Bilbao pressed in the second half and broke through in the 73rd minute when Yeste's replacement, Ezquerro, headed home from a cross by Roberto "Tiko" Martinez. The Basque team extended its lead six minutes later when Iraola converted a penalty, awarded after midfielder Rafa Lopez handled an Ezquerro header. However, Valladolid boosted its chances of advancing in the 86th minute when Aduriz scored with a spot kick after right back Javi Gonzalez had also touched the ball with his hand. (AP)