PAMPLONA:
Ez Abde scored a good goal Osasuna a 1-0 Copa del Rey semi-final first leg win over Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday.
The Barcelona loanee burst into the box at the start of the second half and drilled home well to put the team apart in an even match at El Sadar.
Osasuna, who last reached the semi-finals 18 years ago, eventually lost in the final against Real Betis, will make a trip to San Mames for the second leg on April 4.
Athletic has won the cup 23 times, more than any other side other than Barcelona, and played in the semi-finals for the fourth season.
However, the last time they won the competition was back in 1984, and the Basque side have lost the final six times since then.
“It was a very equal game, and the start in the second half and the time of genius from Abde gave us a little chance,” said the coach of Osasuna Jagoba Arrasate.
“In general, the two teams played well against each other, and there weren’t many chances.”
Ernesto Valverde brought defender Inigo Martinez into the Athletic starting lineup after being injured, for his first appearance since November.
Abde, who scored the winner in Osasuna’s 3-2 win over Sevilla in La Liga last weekend, was quick to pounce at the far post.
At the other end, Inaki Williams finished well but had his goal disallowed for a clear foul.
The first half saw few clear chances, in a tough match, but Abde won at the start of the second half.
Moi Gomez found the Morocco international, who beat defender Daniel Vivian and drilled a low effort across goal and into the far corner.
It proved the difference between the sides, and Osasuna stopped Athletic in the final stages.
Sergio Herrera did a great job late on to keep out Athletic player Gorka Guruzeta’s effort at his near post.
“The game was bad, I don’t know if it was because the two teams respected each other, but not one team stopped the ball,” said the Athletic Trainer Valverde.
“The game fell apart with Abde’s goal, we threw ourselves in (after that), we kept going forward and better, but we didn’t deserve it.”
Real Madrid host rivals Barcelona in the other semi-final first leg on Thursday.
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