Bilbao beat Man. United to reach Europa League quarters

 　　BILBAO, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Athletic¹ Club Bilbao quaified for the quarterfinals of the Europa League with a magnificent victory over English Premier² League leaders, Manchester United on Thursday.

　　Athletic's 2-1 win was the result of 90 minutes brilliant football from the Basques who were better than their English rivals from start to finish of the game. Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson made several changes to his side with Rio Ferdinand and Tom Cleverley in his starting 11, while Bilbao began with the same side that had performed so well in Manchester a week earlier.

　　Manchester United kicked off needing to score twice in order to have any chance of qualifying, while Bilbao only needed to keep things tight in defense³, but true to form the Basque side looked to take the game to their rivals with Markel Susaeta and Javi Martinez both causing problems in the early minutes.

　　At the other end, Wayne Rooney saw a shot blocked by Bilbao keeper Gorka Iraizoz following a good cleveley pass, but overall the Spanish side were in control.

　　Iker Muniain hit the Manchester United post after 14 minutes after a smart passing move and Fernando Llorente put Bilbao ahead 10 minutes later with a first time finish after a long ball from Fernando Amorebieta.

　　The big striker had to leave the pitch five minutes from the break with a hip⁴ injury and was replaced by Gaizka Toquero, while United's only chance before halftime was an Ashley Young run that was well-stopped by Amorebieta.

　　Bilbao continued with the initiative in the second half with Ander Herrera going close and Andoni Iriola firing wide after a magnificent swerving⁵ run, while United were again subdued⁶ in the face of a magnificent atmosphere in the ground.

　　Oscar de Marcos doubled home side's lead halfway⁷ through the half following an Iriola cross from the right and United used their substutions, bringing on Danny Welbeck, Paul Pogba and and Chris Smalling, but it was Bilbao who again went close as Susaeta side-footed wide, before Gaizka Toquero headed onto the roof of the net.

　　Wayne Rooney pulled a goal back for United with a wonderful right foot shot ten minutes left to produce som worries among the home fans, but the final result was fully⁸ deserved for Bilbao and their fans.

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 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

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 hip   

n.臀部，髋；屋脊

参考例句：

• The thigh bone is connected to the hip bone.股骨连着髋骨。
• The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line.新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。

5 swerving   

v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• It may stand as an example of the fitful swerving of his passion. 这是一个例子，说明他的情绪往往变化不定，忽冷忽热。 来自辞典例句
• Mrs Merkel would be foolish to placate her base by swerving right. 默克尔夫人如果为了安抚她的根基所在而转到右翼就太愚蠢了。 来自互联网

6 subdued   

adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He seemed a bit subdued to me. 我觉得他当时有点闷闷不乐。
• I felt strangely subdued when it was all over. 一切都结束的时候，我却有一种奇怪的压抑感。

7 halfway   

adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途

参考例句：

• We had got only halfway when it began to get dark.走到半路，天就黑了。
• In study the worst danger is give up halfway.在学习上，最忌讳的是有始无终。

8 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。