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Falcao double inspires Atletico to Europa League title Eds: epa photos

Other News Materials 10 May 2012 02:06 (UTC +04:00)
Two superbly-taken goals from Radamel Falcao and a fine late strike from Diego gave Atletico Madrid a 3-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in the all-Spanish Europa League final in Bucharest Wednesday, dpa reported.
Falcao double inspires Atletico to Europa League title Eds: epa photos

Two superbly-taken goals from Radamel Falcao and a fine late strike from Diego gave Atletico Madrid a 3-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in the all-Spanish Europa League final in Bucharest Wednesday, dpa reported.

Falcao set Atletico up for their second Europa League title in three seasons with goals in the seventh and 34th minutes, for also the 26-year-old Colombia striker's second straight Europa League triumph following victory with Porto last year.

Brazilian midfielder Diego drifted past Athletic's defence to rifle in a third with his left foot with five minutes remaining to end Athletic's hopes of a first European title.

Falcao, the competition's top scorer for the past two seasons, had headed the winner for Porto last year before moving from the Portuguese side to Atletico in the summer for a club record 40 million euros (51.7 million dollars).

Both his opening goals in the National Arena were superbly taken as Atletico made it a record 12 consecutive wins in the competition.

The opener came after seven minutes when Falcao took a pass from Diego and, from inside the right-hand of the area, cut inside to bend a left-foot shot into the top right corner of the net.

Athletic enjoyed a period of possession, creating a chance for Fernando Llorento whose sliced volley went just past the post, while Iker Muniain tested keeper Thibaut Courtois with a long shot.

But it was Atletico who struck again when Athletic lost the ball and Arda Turan set up Falcao who turned defender Jon Aurtenetxe with a right-foot drag back before calmly finishing with his left.

It took Falcao's total for the competition this season to 12 to follow the record 17 he scored for Porto last season, including the first-half winner in last season's final in Dublin in the 1-0 win over fellow Portuguese side Sporting Braga.

Athletic, whose only previous European final was when they lost the UEFA Cup to Juventus on away goals in 1977, made two substitutions at half-time, with a third following in the 63rd minute as coach Marcelo Bielsa went for attack.

Markel Susaeta had a deflected shot go just wide of the post and was then thwarted by Courtois as Athletic tried vainly to get back into the game, only to be nearly punished again by Falcao who struck the post with 10 minutes remaining.

All hopes ended for Athletic when Diego ghosted into the left of the area and found the net with a left-foot shot across goal, to seal a third major European trophy for Atletico to add to their 1962 Cup Winners' Cup and 2010 Europa League titles.

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