Fascinating night of Cup action in Spain

 　　MADRID, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Reigning¹ Copa del Rey holders² Real Madrid fought back from two goals down to defeat Malaga 3-2 in the first leg of their last 16 Copa del Rey tie.

　　Madrid had trailed 2-0 at half time after goals from Sergio Sanchez and Martin Demichelis had stunned³ the fans in the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

　　However, coach Jose Mourinho reacted at the break, bringing Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil and Karim Benzema into the game and the changes brought about the desired effect.

　　Khedira created and scored Madrid's first goal after 68 minute, before Gonzalo Higuain fired home with his left foot two minutes later.

　　Benzema put Madrid ahead 10 minutes from time to leave Malaga reeling. It was a just reward for a spectacular 45 minutes from the Frenchman, although a 1-0 win for Malaga next week would see them though on the away goals rule.

　　Albacete and Athletic⁴ Club Bilbao kicked off the night with a 0-0 draw in Albacete with the Segunda B (third category) side well worthy⁵ of a draw.

　　Albacete had already knocked Atletico Madrid out of the competition and although they failed to create chances against Athletic, they restricted their visitors to a first half shot from Andoni Iriola which bounced away off the post.

　　Another third tier side, Mirandes, took a huge step towards the quarter finals with a 2-0 win against Racing⁶ Santander. Racing are struggling in the BBVA Primera Liga and never looked like getting a result against the side that knocked Villarreal out of the last round.

　　Pablo Infarte and Martins scored in the first half for Mirandes and Racing never looked like getting back into the game.

　　Second division side Alcorcon also went closer to a surprise with a 2-1 first leg over fourth placed Levante. Borja Perez and Nagorre scored for Alcorcon, although Miguel Pallardo scored an away goal that gives Levante hope of reaching the last eight.

　　The return legs will be played next week.

1 reigning   

adj.统治的，起支配作用的

参考例句：

• The sky was dark, stars were twinkling high above, night was reigning, and everything was sunk in silken silence. 天很黑，星很繁，夜阑人静。
• Led by Huang Chao, they brought down the reigning house after 300 years' rule. 在黄巢的带领下，他们推翻了统治了三百年的王朝。

2 holders   

支持物( holder的名词复数 )； 持有者； （支票等）持有人； 支托（或握持）…之物

参考例句：

• Slaves were mercilessly ground down by slave holders. 奴隶受奴隶主的残酷压迫。
• It is recognition of compassion's part that leads the up-holders of capital punishment to accuse the abolitionists of sentimentality in being more sorry for the murderer than for his victim. 正是对怜悯的作用有了认识，才使得死刑的提倡者指控主张废除死刑的人感情用事，同情谋杀犯胜过同情受害者。

3 stunned   

adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The fall stunned me for a moment. 那一下摔得我昏迷了片刻。
• The leaders of the Kopper Company were then stunned speechless. 科伯公司的领导们当时被惊得目瞪口呆。

4 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。

5 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

6 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。