Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Victory not enough for Atletico

Crisis club Valencia made it through to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey despite suffering a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night.

Valencia has lurched from one problem to another this season but a cup semi-final - no matter that it came following yet another defeat - will give under-pressure coach Ronald Koeman some much-needed cheer.

Atletico, trailing 1-0 from the first leg, looked set for a comfortable night after scoring twice in the opening 18 minutes.

Diego Forlan created both goals, first firing in a cross from the right which was turned into his own net by Valencia full-back Miguel under pressure from Fabiano Eller, then putting Sergio Aguero clean through to make it 2-0.

Valencia stunned the home crowd though by netting two quickfire goals with virtually its only efforts of the first half.

Cleber Santana scored the second own goal of the match in the 28th minute when, in trying to challenge David Villa, he put the ball past wrong-footed Atletico goalkeeper Falcon.

Then seven minutes later a clever Ever Banega pass set Mata through on the left and he lashed a superb rising shot into the near top corner.

Atletico got a third when Valera headed home Aguero's corner, but that was not enough to deny Valencia a place in the last four.

Ten-man Getafe squeezed through on away goals after Esteban Granero scored late on in a 2-1 defeat to Real Mallorca.

The Azulones took a 1-0 lead into the game but were soon in trouble as Ariel Ibagaza scored from the penalty spot after only seven minutes.

Juan Arango doubled Mallorca's lead in the 55th minute but Granero snatched a last-gasp away goal to send Getafe through to the last four.

The hero then turned villain in the 88th minute when he was sent off, but the dismissal did little to mar the visitors' celebrations.

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