ISTANBUL, Sept 16 - Trabzonspor hung on to a 3-2
lead to beat Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their UEFA Cup
first round tie on Thursday after a brave fight-back by the
Spanish team from a 3-0 deficit.
The Turkish side stunned the visitors with two goals in
rapid succession in the first half.
Gokdeniz Karadeniz sent in a cross which sailed past
outstretched goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia to Bilbao defender Javi
Gonzalez who mistimed a clearance and knocked the ball into his
own net after 25 minutes.
Trabzon extended their lead three minutes later when
Aranzubia saved a shot only for the ball to rebound into the
path of forward Mehmet Yilmaz who slotted it home.
Striker Karadeniz made it 3-0 halfway through the second
half as he rounded the Bilbao goalkeeper after a brilliant run
and guided the ball into the net.
The third goal stirred Bilbao into action and they hit back
four minutes later when midfielder Carlos Gurpegui picked up a
loose ball in the area and drove a shot into the far corner.
With 10 minutes remaining the unmarked Asier Del Horno
headed a goal from a free-kick to make the score 3-2 and leave
the tie finely balanced for the return leg in Bilbao in two
weeks time.