Betis won the Copa del Rey for the first time since 2005 in a dramatic final!!
After an exciting match ended 1-1 after extra time at a full La Cartuja stadium, Real Betis held their nerve to win a 5-4 penalty shootout
and beat Valencia in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday.
It was difficult to distinguish the two teams who maintained a fast pace
throughout the 120 minutes in a classic free-flowing match full of goalscoring chances and fantastic saves.
Yunus Musah was the scapegoat after Valencia’s fourth spot-kick was missed, resulting in a 5-4 penalty shootout victory for Betis.
Hugo Duro’s 30th-minute strike cancelled out Borja Iglesias‘ opening goal for Betis in the first half.
Real Betis’ stunning victory in their hometown of Seville earned them their first major trophy since winning the same title in 2005.
It was only their fourth major championship, after winning La Liga in 1934-35 and the Spanish Cup in 1977 and 2005.
‘This is what we wanted, to win the Copa del Rey again,’
said Joaquin Sanchez, Betis’ 40-year-old captain, who collected the trophy from King Felipe VI of Spain.
Watch strong dramatic penalties with Real Betis and Valencia!!!
‘Not only this year’s work has contributed to this. We’ve steadily improved and are having a fantastic season.’
It was the first time since Barcelona’s win against Mallorca in 1998 that the Copa del Rey final went to penalties.
Yunus Musah of Valencia blazed over in the shoot-out, allowing Juan Miranda to hit the winning penalty at La Cartuja,
giving Betis their fourth major championship in their 115-year history.
Borja Iglesias put Betis ahead, but Hugo Duro equalised for Valencia just before halftime,
and neither team could find a winner in the second half or extra time.
However, Musah’s blunder and Miranda’s cool demeanour helped Betis win the cup for the third time,
following their victories in 1977 and 2005.
Joaquin, a 40-year-old winger who debuted for Betis at the age of 19 in 2000 and appeared in the final 17 years ago,
came on in the 86th minute and scored a penalty. It will be interesting to see if Joaquin thinks this is a suitable finish to a wonderful career.
but in truth, both teams contributed equally to an open and thrilling final.
So, It was only the second time in 14 years that no Real Madrid, Barcelona,
or Atletico Madrid were present,
and while Betis and Valencia are hardly minnows in Spain, the significance of the occasion could not be overstated for both clubs.
Many predicted a stylistic clash, with Real Betis’ swashbuckling flair tasked with breaking down Valencia’s grit and determination,
Finally, Valencia won the Copa del Rey in 2019,
defeating Barcelona in the final, but the team has been more preoccupied with avoiding relegation in recent seasons due to a fire-sale of key players under the controversial ownership of Peter Lim.
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