Thursday, December 5, 2024, 9:03 p.m.
The highlight of Thursday in the Copa del Rey was the Príncipe Felipe de Cáceres, where Atlético faced Cacereño, from the Second Federation, warned by the serious difficulties they experienced in their first round duel against the very modest Vic, from the sixth category. With the presence of Robin Le Normand in the starting eleven as the best possible news, the Colchonero team faced the duel seriously, trying to do their homework without any major problems.
He monopolized control of the ball and had the first goal in a one-on-one play by Samuel Lino against Diego Nieves, the local goalkeeper. However, the red and white approach was blown up in an Extremadura counter, culminated by Merencio. Riquelme was able to balance the match again before the break but ran into Nieves, who soon looked like an unexpected hero.
Simeone, rushed by the threat of the result, introduced a triple substitution after the break, with pillars such as Marcos Llorente and Julián Álvarez on the scene. La Araña precisely had the tie, avoided by a clearance under the sticks, and although Atlético accumulated chances, the daring Cacereño did not renounce the threat either. Correa shot wide and De Paul ran into Nieves’ beautiful handball, definitely crowned by a fantastic performance.
All the mattress alarms were already ringing when Lenglet, Le Normand’s substitute, capitalized on a good cross from Rodrigo de Paul to equalize the duel less than ten minutes from the end. The draw and the expulsion of Jaime Sancho in Cacereño tempered Atlético’s nerves just in time to do their homework in stoppage time. De Paul tried his luck from the edge of the area and his shot had the fortune of hitting an opponent that confused the brilliant Nieves. Julián Álvarez, already at the horn, rounded off a much more difficult mattress victory than the result dictates.
Something similar happened to another first team, Osasuna, which also flirted with disaster, in its case against Ceuta, from the First Federation. A goal from Redru put the mackerel team ahead in the final stretch of the first act, and after passing through the locker room, Rubén Díez increased the disadvantage of the rojillos. Budimir rescued the 2023 runners-up in the 84th minute and activated the ‘express’ comeback of the Navarrese, propelled to the round of 32 by the goals of Raúl García de Haro and Redru, with an own goal, already in added time.
Sevilla, challenged by Olot, soon ran into an innocent penalty from Agoumé, saved by Álvaro Fernández. Another maximum penalty, this one in favor of the Seville team, was taken advantage of by Montiel to fulfill the theoretical superiority of the five-time Cup champion. Juanlu doubled Sevilla’s advantage at the restart and gave García Pimienta’s team peace of mind to certify a solvent, rounded classification for the goal of former City player Iheanacho, author of a double against Las Rozas in the first round, before Ayala’s goal of honor.
The general difficulties among the top category teams also affected Getafe, even to a greater extent. The blue team had to go to penalties to resolve their tie against Orihuela.
The second Racing de Ferrol and Cartagena also met the predictions against Barakaldo and Andorra, both bronze, although Burgos crashed, against Marbella, and Castellón, against Ponferradina, victorious in a dramatic resolution from eleven meters.
Thursday playoffs:
-Cacereño 1-3 Atlético.
-Ceuta 2-3 Health.
-Orihuela 0-0 (0-3 p.) Getafe.
-Ponferradina 1-1 (4-3 p.) Castellón.
-Barakaldo 1-2 Racing de Ferrol.
-Marbella 1-0 Burgos.
-Andorra 0-1 Cartagena.
-Olot 1-3 Seville.
-Minera – Alavés.
-Conquense – Real Sociedad.
