Llorente Fires Bilbao into Final

Fernando Llorente fired Athletic Bilbao into the Europa League final with an 88th-minute strike as his side overturned a first-leg deficit to see off Sporting Lisbon 3-1 at the Estadio San Mames.

Marcelo Bielsa's men, who accounted for Manchester United early in the competition, looked set to take the tie into extra-time after goals from Markel Susaete and Gomez Ibai sandwiched a strike from Rene van Wolfswinkel.

But with the score at 2-1 to Athletic on the night and 3-3 on aggregate, Llorente lashed a right-foot shot into the corner of the net from an Ibai cross to seal the home side's passage into the final where they will meet fellow Spaniards Atletico Madrid.

Conscious that an early goal for Sporting could spell the end of their chances, the home side started nervously and Matias Fernandez fired a free-kick over the bar for the visitors in the seventh minute.

Llorente brought the first save out of Sporting keeper Rui Patricio in the ninth minute with a left-foot shot, then Iker Muniain saw his effort from six yards blocked by Sporting's Alexandre Xandao.

Patricio saved from Ibai as Bilbao began to press, but the hosts' pressure finally told in the 17th minute when Susaeta rifled a left-foot shot high into the net after a short pass from Llorente.

Sporting almost responded through Fernandez, who had a shot blocked in the net, while Bruno Pereirinha should have done better from close quarters, before Brazilian Anderson Polga forced a fingertip save out of home keeper Gorka Iraizoz.

The home side had chances of their own with Patricio tipping a Llorente effort round the post, before Sporting put themselves back in control of the tie two minutes before the break when Van Wolfswinkel fired home from the centre of the box.

The visitors' lead lasted less than three minutes as Athletic Club levelled the aggregate scores three minutes later when Ibai drilled a low shot past Patricio after being set up by the ever-present Llorente.

In an exciting start to the second half, Patricio tipped over a shot from Susaeta and a Llorente header hit the post, before Emiliano Insua came close at the other end with a drilled shot which Iraizoz tipped round the post.

Polga's long-range effort was easily held by Iraizoz and the game looked to be heading for extra-time when Ibai crossed from the left side of the penalty area and Llorente fired home to send Bilbao to the final, winning 4-3 on aggregate.

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Capel Sporting Strike Stuns Bilbao

Sporting Lisbon netted twice in the last 15 minutes to overturn a deficit against Athletic Bilbao and earn themselves a narrow 2-1 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 Insua before the impressive Diego Capel - a Spain international - drilled home the match-winner 10 minutes from time to down his countrymen.

The Portuguese outfit pushed hard for a third goal late on but Athletic managed to keep them out to leave the tie firmly in the balance 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 Insua drew an early save out of Athletic custodian 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, usually so deadly in the air, powered his header from Markel Susaeta's corner a foot over the crossbar.

Susaeta and Ander Herrera saw long-range efforts go wide and saved by Rui Patricio, respectively, as Athletic sought a valuable away goal, but Sporting were looking dangerous on the break and twice came close following lightning-fast counter-attacks.

The first saw Joao Pereira drive in a rising shot from the edge of the box which appeared to strike the outside of the 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 also 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 Insua had failed to cut the ball out - slicing his attempted clearance behind him instead of away from danger - defender Aurtenetxe slotted in at the far post.

That was a huge blow for Sporting, but it could have got even worse five minutes later as Athletic hit the woodwork, Fernando Amorebieta latching onto a loose ball inside the area to drive in a shot that struck the inside of the post before staying out.

Susaeta then saw a looping header land on the roof of the net with Rui Patricio struggling as the visitors went in search of a potentially decisive second goal.

At that stage it looked like Athletic would be left holding all the aces for their return to San Mames, but with their final dreams slipping away, 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.

Insua 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 lay siege to 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.

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.

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Sporting Gain From Metalist Miss

Sporting Lisbon progressed to the UEFA Europa League semi-finals after Cleiton Xavier's second-half penalty miss cost hosts Metalist Kharkiv dear in Ukraine.

Leading 2-1 from the first leg in Portugal, Sporting extended their lead through Ricky van Wolfswinkel before Jonathan Cristaldo equalised early in the second half to pile the pressure on the visitors.

But Metalist blew their big chance of levelling on aggregate in the 63rd minute when Alexandre Xandao fouled Marko Devic in the box, and Xavier rattled his resulting spot-kick at the legs of Sporting goalkeeper Rui Patricio.

The Ukrainians had pushed forward from the start, with Edmar forcing a save out of Patricio in the third minute with a close-range header from a free-kick from the busy Xavier.

After the visitors responded by forcing a series of corners, Metalist again went on the offensive and came close to opening the scoring in the 12th minute when Cristaldo headed over from six yards.

Metalist were creating most of the chances and Rui Patricio did well to maintain Sporting's slender aggregate lead in the 29th minute when he tipped over an 18-yard shot from Xavier.

Freda Taison shot at the keeper's feet and Cristian Villagra fired over the bar from 12 yards before Sporting fashioned a rare shooting chance with Marat Izmailov hitting a shot over from long range.

With Sporting nudging back into the match, Van Wolfswinkel forced a 39th-minute save out of Oleksandr Goryainov, but Metalist came close again two minutes later when Patricio saved brilliantly to deny Xavier.

Out of nowhere, Sporting grabbed the opener in the last minute of the first half when Van Wolfswinkel headed home a cross by Diego Capel, extending the Portuguese side's aggregate lead.

Needing to score at least twice, Metalist made a good start to the second half with Cristaldo having a shot blocked in the box in the 48th minute and a dangerous Xavier free-kick booted clear by Xandao.

Matias Fernandez missed with a long-range effort which would have sealed it for the visitors in the 55th minute, and Metalist responded by equalising four minutes later when Cristaldo fired home from Devic's header down.

Metalist looked like pulling their way back into the match but after their penalty miss it was Sporting who regained control, and Metalist could summon no more clear-cut chances as the minutes ticked by.