Bilbao notches meaningless win against Kiryat Shmona

HAIFA, Israel (AP) — Fernando Llorente and Gaizka Toquero scored in either half Wednesday to give Athletic Bilbao a 2-0 victory over Hapoel Kiryat Shmona in a Europa League game that was postponed last week for security reasons.

The win lifted Bilbao out of last place in Group I, past the Israeli club, but neither team has a chance of advancing to the knockout round.

Llorente scored the opener in the 34th minute, slotting in the rebound after Toquero’s close-range effort from a corner was blocked.

Toquero then netted the second in the 76th when a free kick by Ibai Gomez was deflected into his path and he sent a shot past goalkeeper Daniel Amos.

The match was originally scheduled for last Thursday but was postponed before a ceasefire was called following eight days of violence between Israeli forces and the Hamas group in Gaza.