Semi-finals, first leg
Matches played on 23rd
and 24th January
Athletic Bilbao 2 - Real
Madrid 1
Bilbao: Lafuente;
Larrainzar, Lacruz (Murillo 18'), Oscar Vales, Javi González; Orbaiz
(Carlos García 65'), Alkiza; Joseba Etxeberria, Tiko, Yeste (Ezquerro
76'); Urzaiz. 4-2-3-1. Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado,
Karanka, Pavón, Roberto Carlos; Iván Helguera (Flavio 75'),
Makelele; Figo, Zidane (Solari 80'), Raúl; Morientes. 4-2-3-1.
Goals: 0-1. 03. Zidane.
Took pass from Figo on right and beat Lafuente from edge of area. 1-1. 63.
Etxeberria. Beat Pavón on right corner of area and shot past Casillas.
2-1. 84. Urzaiz. Fired ball into net after Ezquerro headed on Etxeberria
cross.
Athletic Bilbao came back
from a goal down against Real Madrid to set up a passionate second leg next
Thursday in the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. A full strength Madrid side missing
only the injured Hierro took the lead in the third minute of the game through
Zinedine Zidane, who beat Lafuente from the edge of the area after receiving a
pass from Figo. Bilbao lost Lacruz with a dislocated elbow a quarter of an hour
later, but they gradually worked their back into the game in the second half as
the visitors tired. Etxeberria levelled the scores with a spectacular shot
after beating Pavón on the right of the area, and after Urzaiz hit the
post, the Spanish international striker finally got the better of Casillas four
minutes from the end to score the winning goal.
Figueres 0 - Deportivo La
Coruña 1
Figueres: Caballero;
Fernando, Salas, Serra, Ruano; Algar, Pagés (Cortada 82'), Freixa,
Arnau; Juli (Kali Garrido 85'), Peña (Eloi 75'). 4-4-2.
Deportivo: Nuno; Héctor, César, Djorovic, Capdevila;
Emerson , Duscher; Scaloni (José Manuel 81') Djalminha (Valerón
85'), Amavisca; Diego Tristán (Makaay 86'). 4-2-3-1.
Goals: 0-1. 06. Diego
Tristán. Back-heel flick into net after low cross in from Scaloni.
Deportivo La Coruña
took a large step towards reaching the final with a 0-1 away win at Figueres.
Although the second division B side had already knocked Barcelona and Osasuna
out of the competition in earlier rounds, Irureta took a chance putting out a
team packed with reserve players, although Diego Tristán did play up
front due to the unavailability of the other strikers. And it was
Tristán who got the goal that separated the two teams in the end with a
clever back flick through his legs in the sixth minute which left keeper
Caballero going the wrong way. After the goal Depor allowed the Catalans to
come at them, slowing down the game and playing keep-ball to run down the
clock. Figueres did have their chances, with Peña and Juli both going
close and referee Itturalde González upsetting the local fans turning
down a couple of penalty appeals. However they were lacking the quality to get
the much needed goal, and Deportivo nearly added to their scores on quick
breakaways, Tristán hitting the post and Amavisca shooting straight at
the keeper when free in front of goal in the second half. Deportivo should
finish things off next Wednesday in the Riazor stadium. |