Betis beat Barca but bow out of King's Cup
Reuters - Wednesday 19 January 2011, 23:17
MADRID - A depleted Barcelona reached the
King's Cup semi-finals with a 6-3 aggregate win over Real Betis
despite losing Wednesday's second leg to the second division
leaders.
Barca thrashed Seville-based Betis 5-0 in last week's first
leg at the Nou Camp and coach Pep Guardiola rested several
first-choice players, including World Cup-winners David Villa,
Sergio Busquets and Pedro, for the return which they lost 3-1.
The 2009 winners were reeling when Jorge Molina netted twice
in the first seven minutes before World Player of the Year
Lionel Messi, who had been largely anonymous until then, scored
a trademark breakaway goal in the 38th.
Betis midfielder Arzu hooked the ball into the net on the
stroke of halftime to revive the home side's slim hopes and they
were further lifted when Messi scuffed a penalty over the
crossbar shortly after the break.
The Betis players were clearly tiring as the match wore on
and they were unable to match the aggression and drive they had
shown in the first half as Barca survived to book a last-four
meeting with Almeria.
Despite their elimination, the home fans, who have seen
their financially-troubled club slide into administration, were
relishing their moment back in the limelight and enjoying their
team's performance, which suggested they will be worthy
opponents if they seal promotion this season.
"Being from the second division it was a privilege to play
against Barcelona," Molina said in a television interview.
"The idea was to make the most of it and I think the
supporters enjoyed it tonight and we did too," he added.
"We have to separate ourselves from (the financial problems)
and focus on achieving our goal of getting back into the first
division."
HOPES CRUSHED
Almeria had earlier reached the last four for the first time
by knocking out Deportivo La Coruna.
The Andalusian club, who are bottom of La Liga, won last
week's first leg 1-0 at home and built on Sunday's gritty 1-1
draw at home to Real Madrid in the league to beat the Galicians
3-2 on the night for a 4-2 aggregate success.
Two quick goals midway through the first half fired Almeria
3-0 ahead on aggregate before Depor pulled one back from the
penalty spot.
Adrian levelled on the night six minutes into the second
half but their hopes of turning the tie around were crushed when
the referee awarded Almeria a penalty of their own four minutes
later which was converted by Swedish striker Henok Goitom.
Holders Sevilla led the charge into the last four on Tuesday
when Renato's early strike set them on their way to a 3-0 win at
home to Villarreal and a 6-3 aggregate success.
Real Madrid or their city rivals Atletico await in the
semi-finals, with Real holding a 3-1 advantage from the first
leg at their Bernabeu stadium ahead of Thursday's return match
across town at the Calderon.