Athletic Bilbao qualify for Europa League final

 　　BILBAO, Spain, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Fernando Llorente scored a last minute goal to qualify Athletic¹ Club Bilbao for the final of the Europa League on Thursday.

　　Llorente forced the ball home from close range following great work from Ibai Gomez to give Athletic a 3-1 win over Sporting Club de Portugal on the night and a 4-3 aggregate² triumph following a nerve-wracking game in the San Mames Stadium.

　　Athletic replaced the suspended Oscar de Marcos with Ibai Gomez while Javi Martinez returned the heart of the Basque side's defense³ after missing the first leg through suspension.

　　The first half was a pulsating⁴ affair with both sides looking to attack. Diego Capel was again a threat for Sporting, while Markel Susaeta and Fernando Llorente carried the danger for Athletic.

　　Athletic appealed for a penalty after eight minutes as Llorente looked to be caught in the Sporting area, but referee⁵ Martin Atkinson waved play on.

　　The home side were ahead just after the quarter hour as the best move of the game saw Iker Muniain cross for Llorente, who chested he ball for Susaeta to volley past Rui Patricio.

　　The visitors now needed a goal and almost had one when Anderson Polga's header was saved by Gorka Iraizoz, while at the other end Ibai and Llorente were both close to doubling Athletic's lead, with Ibai just failing to make contact on a cross and Rui Partirico saving from Llorente.

　　Sporting equalized two minutes before the break when Ricky Van Wolfswinkle fired home a loose ball following a corner, but in a dramatic end to the half Ibai restored Athletic's lead with a cool finish from inside the area.

　　The tie was on a knifedge as the second half kicked off and Athletic had the first two chances with Susaeta seeing a shot tipped over. From the resulting corner Amorebieta's header cannoned⁶ back off the post.

　　At the other end Emiliano Insua saw a free kick hit the base of the post, although the referee gave a corner.

　　As the game progressed Athletic took control in midfield with Ander Herrera especially impressive, although ear cut chances few hard to come by apart from a long range effort from Iturraspe and a Llorente header, which was saved on 69 minutes.

　　It looked as if the game was destined⁷ for extra time, but Athletic refused to allow that to happen and in the 90th minute they got their reward.

1 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。

2 aggregate   

adj.总计的，集合的；n.总数；v.合计；集合

参考例句：

• The football team had a low goal aggregate last season.这支足球队上个赛季的进球总数很少。
• The money collected will aggregate a thousand dollars.进帐总额将达一千美元。

3 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 pulsating   

adj.搏动的，脉冲的v.有节奏地舒张及收缩( pulsate的现在分词 )；跳动；脉动；受（激情）震动

参考例句：

• Lights were pulsating in the sky. 天空有闪烁的光。
• Spindles and fingers moved so quickly that the workshop seemed to be one great nervously-pulsating machine. 工作很紧张，全车间是一个飞快的转轮。 来自子夜部分

5 referee   

n.裁判员．仲裁人，代表人，鉴定人

参考例句：

• The team was left raging at the referee's decision.队员们对裁判员的裁决感到非常气愤。
• The referee blew a whistle at the end of the game.裁判在比赛结束时吹响了哨子。

6 cannoned   

vi.与…猛撞（cannon的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The drunk man cannoned into a waiter. 那个醉汉撞在侍者怀里。 来自辞典例句
• A big dog came running round the corner, cannoned into him, and knocked him over. 一只大狗由街角跑来，撞上他，把他撞倒了。 来自辞典例句

7 destined   

adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的

参考例句：

• It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
• The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。