Cedric Bakambu took his Europa League goal tally for the campaign to seven by scoring both of Villarreal's goals in their 2-1 quarter-final first-leg clash against Sparta Prague at the Estadio El Madrigal this evening.
It was a truly nightmarish start for the visitors and in particular their goalkeeper David Bicik, who passed a late fitness test on a finger injury to feature between the posts.
In just the third minute he controlled a back-pass well enough, but then seemed to hesitate over his clearance. That provided Bakambu with the opportunity to pounce and by the time that Bicik had made his decision, the ball cannoned off Villarreal's number 17 and flew into the back of the net.
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After that error, Bicik went about attempting to atone with a string of saves to keep the hosts at bay for the remainder of the half. First he foiled Samu Castillejo from point-blank range, before goalscorer Bakambu was denied in a one-on-one situation.
The Villarreal onslaught showed no sign of letting up and in the 33rd minute Bakambu darted to the near post to meet Roberto Soldado's low cross, only to see his diving header turned behind by the Sparta keeper.
Five minutes later Castillejo blazed over from ten yards out and that series of failings in front of goal were eventually punished deep into first-half stoppage time. Borek Dockal swung over a corner and Sparta centre-back Jakub Brabec got ahead of his marker to nod the ball inside the far post for his third Europa League goal of the campaign.
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The equaliser did little to change the tie's momentum, with Villarreal remaining very much the dominant force after the restart.
Mario Gaspar powered a header against the crossbar, while Soldado saw his low effort pushed to safety by a full-stretch Bicik within the opening six minutes of the second half.
Finally, though, Bicik's resistance was broken with 63 minutes on the clock when Bakambu claimed his second of the night. Denis Suarez poked the ball into DR Congo's international path and from 20 yards out, he bent the ball inside the post.
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The duel between Bakambu and Bicik continued in the 75th minute, with the latter coming out on top on this occasion. Initially he denied Suarez's low shot and then got up in time to spread himself and prevent the Villarreal frontman from wrapping up his hat-trick.
With a third goal very much in their sights, Villarreal pushed forward with purpose in the closing stages as Soldado saw his goalbound effort blocked by Costa Nhamoinesu and then Gapsar fired the ball across the face of goal, but none of his teammates had gambled for a simple tap-in.
The coveted goal was not forthcoming, though, meaning that the Yellow Submarine will have a slender advantage to defend when they head to Prague next Thursday with a place in the semi-finals at stake.
Liam Apicella
