Watch: third division facet Alcoyano knock out Real Madrid from Copa del Rey

Image Source : AP Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema walks with the ball watched by Eden Hazard after Alcoyano’s Juanan scored his facet’s second objective on the El Collao stadium in Alcoy.

Real Madrid could not keep away from one other Copa del Rey upset, not even whereas enjoying with an additional man in opposition to a third-division membership.

Small Spanish membership Alcoyano got here from behind to remove Madrid 2-1 within the spherical of 32 on Wednesday. The hosts scored within the eightieth minute to drive additional again and again within the one hundred and fifteenth to shock the Spanish powerhouse and make it to the final 16. That was regardless of having Ramón López despatched off within the 109th for a second reserving.

“We still believed we could win the match even after the red card,” Alcoyano coach Vicente Parras stated. “This feat will still be remembered in 15 or 20 years.”

The end result will add extra strain coach Zinedine Zidane and Madrid, which was coming off a loss to Athletic Bilbao within the Spanish Super Cup. It was additionally held to a attract its final Spanish league recreation, in opposition to relegation-threatened Osasuna.

“When you play against a third-division club you have to win, but we couldn’t do it,” Zidane stated. “It happens. I’ll take the responsibility. We are going to keep working hard.”

Madrid was searching for its first Copa title since 2014, which was the final time it reached the ultimate. It was eradicated by Real Sociedad within the quarterfinals final season. It hadn’t did not get previous the spherical of 32 since 2015-16, when it was disqualified for utilizing an ineligible participant.

Crosstown rival Atlético Madrid had already been eradicated by a third-division membership within the second spherical this season, shedding to Cornellà, which is able to host Barcelona on Thursday.

Based in japanese Spanish metropolis of Alcoy, the small membership of Alcoyano made it to the Copa quarterfinals in 1946, when it misplaced to eventual champion Real Madrid. It has performed 4 seasons within the first division, however not since 1950-51.

Juanan Casanova scored the winner from shut vary for Alcoyano after a fast counterattack.

Playing with out some common starters, Madrid managed possession from the beginning however couldn’t open the scoring till Éder Militão headed in a cross by Marcelo within the closing minute of the primary half.

Madrid continued to battle to create scoring alternatives and the hosts finally discovered the equalizer with a close-range shot by José Solbes after a nook kick.

Alcoyano threatened once more earlier than the tip of regulation and in additional time, earlier than López was despatched off with a second yellow card for a tough deal with on Casemiro.

The winner by Casanova got here after a missed likelihood by Madrid off a nook kick.

Alcoyano goalkeeper José Juan Figueras, 41, needed to make a few key saves to maintain Madrid from recovering.

The recreation was performed on the 5,000-capacity El Collao Stadium, which was with out followers due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I can’t stop thinking about the fans who couldn’t be with us tonight, but I’m sure that they are extremely happy with what the team has achieved,” Parras stated.

Earlier, Real Sociedad eradicated third-division membership Córdoba 2-0 with a pair of second-half objectives by William José, the Brazilian ahead who was anticipated to seal a transfer to English membership Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Last season’s Copa closing between Sociedad and Basque Country rival Athletic Bilbao has but to be performed after being postponed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

(Inputs from AP.)