Alcorcon complete Real humiliation
Reuters - Tuesday 10 November 2009, 23:41
MADRID - Third-tier Alcorcon lost 1-0 to
Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Tuesday but dumped the nine-times
European champions out of the King's Cup 4-1 on aggregate.
Real had promised to rectify their embarrassing 4-0 first
leg defeat with a stirring fightback at home at the last-32
stage.
Manuel Pellegrini's side though, boasting Raul and Ruud van
Nistelrooy up front supported by Gonzalo Higuain and Kaka,
created little in front of a near-full house.
Alcorcon operate on a budget of just over one million euros, around 400 times smaller than Real's.
"Beating Real Madrid is a dream come true and there is a
nice party going on right now in the dressing room. I think we
deserve it," said coach Juan Antonio Anquela.
"The players made an incredible effort and I want to thank
them publicly for that."
The visitors were disciplined and organised and grew in
confidence the longer Real laboured.
The hosts threatened briefly at the start of the second
half, when they hit the crossbar, but as the chances dried up
disgruntled fans started whistling the players and chanting for
coach Pellegrini to go.
Real substitute Rafael van der Vaart scored from outside the
area with nine minutes left and Higuain hit the bar but by then
fans were streaming out of the Bernabeu.
The supporters that remained cheered Alcorcon's every touch
and gave them a standing ovation at the finish.
"We can't say we didn't try but it's clear we didn't achieve
our objective," Real director general Jorge Valdano told Canal
Plus television.
"But I say again we have absolute confidence in the coach,
the same as we did before the game."
It is the second year in a row Real have been humbled by a
Segunda B side in the Cup after Real Union beat them at the same
stage last season.
LOWER LEAGUE
Other top-flight sides to lose to lower league opposition
were Tenerife, who fell 3-1 on aggregate to second division
Celta Vigo, and Sporting Gijon who lost a penalty shootout
against second division Recreativo Huelva.
Holders Barcelona, Sevilla and Atletico Madrid emphatically
swept aside Segunda B opponents.
Barca put five past Cultural Leonesa on the night to win 7-0
on aggregate, with Bojan Krkic's double opening the floodgates
at the Nou Camp.
Argentina midfielder Maxi Rodriguez netted four goals as
Atletico completed an 8-0 aggregate rout of Marbella and Sevilla
substitute Jose Carlos bagged two as they beat Atletico Ciudad
9-3 on aggregate.
Ten-man Valencia hung on to draw 2-2 at home against Segunda
B side Alcoyano to go through 3-2 overall and Villarreal edged
past third-tier Puertollano 2-1 on aggregate thanks to a late
goal from Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi.
Deportivo Coruna, Malaga and Osasuna also made the last 16.