Holders Sevilla sink Villarreal to reach semis
Reuters - Tuesday 18 January 2011, 23:05
MADRID - Holders Sevilla led the charge
into the last four of the King's Cup when Renato's early strike
set them on their way to a 3-0 home win over Villarreal on
Tuesday.
The result in their quarter-final, second leg at a
boisterous Sanchez Pizjuan stadium put the Andalusians through
6-3 on aggregate and set up a semi-final against Real Madrid or
their city rivals Atletico, who meet on Thursday.
Real, who have not won Spain's domestic Cup since 1993, have
a 3-1 advantage from last week's first leg at the Bernabeu.
Brazilian midfielder Renato fired Sevilla ahead in the
seventh minute when he belted the ball into the net after Alvaro
Negredo had beaten goalkeeper Diego Lopez with a dinked effort
that was about to roll over the line.
Villarreal's chances were effectively extinguished when the
home side struck twice shortly after half-time.
Both goals came from corners swung over by Ivory Coast
midfielder Ndri Romaric, his fellow African Frederic Kanoute of
Mali nodding in the first and Alexis Ruano the second three
minutes later.
The party atmosphere was a fitting setting for the return to
action of Sevilla defender Sergio Sanchez after surgery on a
heart condition and an absence of more than a year.
"I felt very well and very comfortable," Sanchez said in a
television interview.
"I want to thank my team-mates who have made everything
easier for me," he added.
Barcelona, the 2009 winners, are virtually assured of their
semi-final spot after they thumped second-division leaders Real
Betis 5-0 in the first leg.
Pep Guardiola's side, who set a new club record of 28
matches unbeaten in all competitions on Sunday, play at Betis on
Wednesday.
They would meet Almeria or Deportivo La Coruna in the last
four, with Almeria holding the advantage after winning the first
leg at home 1-0.