After a seven-year hiatus, Atletico Madrid is again within the Copa del Rey semifinals, with Memphis Depay scoring within the second half and a video overview overturning a stoppage-time penalty for Sevilla.
On Thursday, Atletico secured a 1-0 victory, marking its return to the final 4 for the primary time since 2017.
“We expected a tight match like this, with few scoring chances, but in the end, we found a way to break through and get the victory, which is the only thing that matters,” Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak mentioned. “Hopefully, we will win this Copa title once more after so a few years.”
Sevilla thought it had an opportunity to ship the match into additional time when Erik Lamela was introduced down inside the world by Pablo Barrios 5 minutes into stoppage time, however the referee was referred to as by video overview and ultimately decided there was no foul.
“It was a tough match, a lot of things happened,” Sevilla defender Marcao said. “If I say what I feel right here, I’ll be suspended for 2 or three months.”
The loss dealt one other blow to Sevilla, which was coming off a 5-1 defeat to Girona within the Spanish league, the place it sits simply exterior the relegation zone. It has misplaced eight of its final 11 matches in all competitions.
Sevilla coach Quique Sanchez Flores mentioned the match should not have been performed after three Sevilla followers died in a automotive accident on their method to Madrid earlier Thursday.
The coach appeared within the post-match news convention however mentioned he wouldn’t speak in regards to the match, solely ship his condolences.
“We lost on a day in which we are mourning the loss of these fans who were coming to the match,” he mentioned. “I do not really feel like making any evaluation in regards to the recreation.”
Atletico prolonged its unbeaten run at residence to 26 matches, since a 1-0 loss to Barcelona final January.
Diego Simeone’s staff, in search of its first Copa title since 2013, eradicated defending champion Real Madrid within the spherical of 16 of the Copa this season. It was ousted by the rival within the quarterfinals final yr.
Depay got here off the bench within the 66th and scored the winner within the 79th after a pleasant transfer by Angel Correa to get previous a defender and feed the ball to his teammate inside the world. Correa had additionally entered the match within the 66th, changing Antoine Griezmann.
Griezmann, who just lately turned Atletico’s all-time main scorer, had missed a Twenty sixth-minute penalty kick when he slipped and despatched his shot from the spot approach over the crossbar. The France worldwide additionally had a aim disallowed for offside within the sixtieth. Depay had a aim referred to as again for offside within the 68th.
Veteran Sevilla defender Sergio Ramos had a transparent likelihood to equalize within the eighty fifth however missed the open web from shut vary after a tough cross from the best facet. The former Real Madrid participant, who was typically jeered by the Atletico followers on the Metropolitano, additionally had an opportunity with a header early in stoppage time.
Sevilla has been in an prolonged droop, with one victory in its final 15 Spanish league matches. It had additionally been eradicated within the Copa quarterfinals final season, dropping to eventual runner-up Osasuna.
On Wednesday, Athletic Bilbao eradicated Barcelona 4-2 in additional time to make it to the Copa semifinals, whereas Spanish league chief Girona misplaced 3-2 to Mallorca.
On Tuesday, Real Sociedad defeated Celta Vigo 2-1 to achieve the final 4 for the primary time since profitable the competitors 4 seasons in the past.
The two-legged semifinals can be performed in February. There had been single-elimination video games till now.
Source: www.dailysabah.com