Sergio Aguero scored two first-half goals Thursday to steer Atletico Madrid into the quarterfinals of the Europa League on the away goals in spite of a 2-2 draw on congregate.

The Argentina striker twice gave Atletico the lead, finding the net in the third and 33rd minutes. Liedson and Miguel Veloso leveled for the home team before halftime.

The teams drew 0-0 in the first leg last week in Madrid.

Aguero sneaked between a defender and the goalkeeper to poke the ball in from close range.

Liedson equalized in the 19th minute, heading in at the back post for his fourth goal in the competition.

Atletico made the lead again when Aguero took a pass from Jose Antonio Reyes and shook off two defenders before firing in his second goal.

Anderson Polga ducked out of the way of Veloso's free-kick in first-half injury time and the shot bounced past the goalkeeper into the net to make it 2-2.

Sporting, needing to find the net for a third time to go through, had Atletico kept the net well defended at the second half.

Saleiro's powerful shot forced a reflex save from David De Gea, and Liedson looked set to score his second at the back post in the 60th minute but was denied.