Rayo gets into the quarterfinals after coming back against Girona

Míchel Sánchez’s team went ahead through Bernardo Espinosa, but Andoni Iraola’s team came back through Guardiola and certified the victory with a saved penalty from Luca Zidane to Cristhian Stuani, in which it was the reissue of the final of the last promotion playoff to First Division.

El Rayo, with the victory achieved, continues opting to match its historical ceiling in the Cup, the semifinals of 1982, while Girona, after tuting a Primera, put an end to a streak of five straight wins and will now focus all efforts on fighting, one more year, for promotion to the highest category.

The meeting, as vertical and electric as both teams, He began with alternatives in the initiative and control of the ball that soon crystallized into clear scoring chances.

In minute 15, Luca Zidane, providential, prevented the goal of Arnau Martinez, after the young defender hunted down a rebound from the visiting goalkeeper himself with a hard shot from David Juncà.

Right after, Isi Palazón He responded with a free-kick that crashed into the crossbar of Juan Carlos Martín. Also from a foul, although in the visiting field, Nahuel Bustos brushed the goal with a shot that was poisoned after bouncing off the barrier. The 1-0 ended up coming from the back corner, with an accurate header from Bernardo to the center of Borja García (26′).

The Colombian’s goal did not alter the script of the afternoon: both teams continued looking for the rival goal. And Rayo found the equalizer just before the break (45+1′), with a volley by Sergi Guardiola adjusted to the right post by Juan Carlos.

The second act started just as the first ended: with both key Guardiola. In the 48′, a serious mistake by Ibrahima Kébé led to the 1-2: the number ‘6’ compromised Juan Carlos with a bad drop shot and the goalkeeper’s rebound collided with Guardiola and ended up inside the Catalan goal.

The goal spurred Rayo and cooled down Girona. Míchel turned to Samu Sáiz and the top scorer of the Second Division, Cristhian Stuani, who had the equalizer in his boots in a penalty committed on Bernardo. His shot, and all chances of victory, died in Luca’s gloves, who hit the ball to his right (71′), and the ticket to the quarterfinals ended up traveling to Vallecas.