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Copa del Rey

Semi final, first leg

Mirandés 1 - Athletic Bilbao 2

Mirandés: Nauzet; Garmendia, César Caneda, Corral, Raúl Garcia; Nacho Garro (Lambarri 53'), Martins; Mujika, Muneta (José Angel 70'), Pablo Infante; Alain Arroyo (Borrell 62'). 4-2-3-1.
Athletic: Iraizoz; Iraola, Javi Martínez, Amorebieta, Aurtenetxe; Ander Herrera, Iturraspe, De Marcos; Susaeta (David López 76'), Llorente, Muniain (Iñigo Pérez 84'). 4-3-3.

Goals:
0-1. 18. Llorente. Got on the end of De Marcos cross to head back past Nauzet.
0-2. 27. Llorente. Dribbled across edge of area and fired shot shot past keeper.
1-2. 91. Lambarri. Turned shot past Iraizoz after Mujika headed on Caneda pass.

Yellow cards: Raúl García 44', Iturraspe 55', Javi Martínez 60', Coral 66', David López 76', Mujika 84', Iñigo Pérez 87'.

The cup this season has been full of surprises, and non more so than the achievement of Mirandés in reaching the semi-finals, only the third team from the second division B to do so (the others were Deportivo Logroño in 1931 and Figueres in 2002, both now disappeared). The club from the Burgos provincial town of Miranda de Ebro were up against 23 time cup winners Athletic Bilbao, whose B team play in the same regional division, and the Anduva stadium was packed to the rafters, with Spanish national coach Vicente Del Bosque one of the spectators. The dream though looked to be over when Fernando Llorente scored twice in the first half hour, the first a header from a De Marcos cross, and the second with a run which ended with a soft shot past keeper Nauzet. Muniain thought he had scored a third after the restart only to see his strike ruled out for a dubious offside, but soon afterwards Mújika hit the bar, and Iraizoz had to make the save of the night to keep out Caneda. Inspired by captain Pablo Infante Mirandés didn't give up, and with the game in injury time they got their reward, Lambarri turning a shot past the keeper after Mújika headed on Caneda's pass. It may not be enough to save the tie, but the crowd certainly liked it. Next week they're off to the San Mamés!