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7 months ago
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Athletic Bilbao won their first Spanish Cup in 40 years in a penalty shoot-out after an exhausting 120 minutes against valiant Mallorca.
When the game went to penalties the Mallorca players celebrated it like a victory. They had resisted for so long and now they fancied themselves from spot-kicks, but they were wrong.
Vedat Muriqi scored for them. He for one, did not deserve to be on the losing side. Raul Garcia levelled for Athletic. But then Manu Morlanes’ kick was saved by Julen Agirrezabala and Athletic never lost the advantage. Iker Muniain scored. Nemanja Radonjic skied his kick. Mikel Vesga slipped but his shot hit the back of the net. Antonio Sanchez kept Mallorca alive by scoring. But Alex Berenguer buried his and the cup was Athletic’s.
Their coach Ernesto Valverde put his head in his hands. He had won the cup coaching Barclona in 2018. Now he had delivered success for a club whose tradition is based on winning this particular trophy that only Barcelona have won more often in Spain.
There were well over 20,000 inside the stadium to celebrate it. And close to 30,000 outside with so many having travelled without tickets now soaking up the success in host city Seville.
Athletic Bilbao won the Copa del Rey after beating Mallorca in a dramatic penalty shootout
After the final kick hit the back of the net, celebrations in Seville were ones of wild jubilation
The victory in Seville brought an end to Bilbao's lengthy 40-year wait for silverware
Beaten coach Javier Aguirre had played his hand well. His Mallorca side are down towards the end of the table and should not have been such a match for high-flying Athletic.
He repeated the tactic of the semi-final urging his players to roar as if the penalty had already been scored when he read out the name of the spot-kick takers but this time it did not work.
Nico Williams was man-of-the-match but he had gifted Mallorca their first chance of the gam giving the ball straight to Muriqi whose dipping curler was pushed over by Julen Agirrezabala. Nothing came from the resulting first corner but from the second corner Mallorca scored.
Sergi Darder’s kick was flicked on by Cyle Larin on 20 minutes and when it came out to Gio Gonzalez his shot was blocked by Aitor Paredes. As it came back out to Jose Copete his shot was pushed out by Agirrezabala. This time when it came back out to Antonio Raillo he calmly rolled it to Rodriguez in the crowded area and, just as calmly, he picked his spot to put Mallorca ahead.
After such a long wait for silverware, the players were undestandably overcome with emotion
Manager Ernesto Valverde hoisted the gigantic trophy aloft after the confetti-strewn presentation
The head coach was then picked up by his players as they celebrated on the pitch after the final whistle
The Williams brothers had warmed their engines by the mid-point of the first half and Iñaki sprinted clear but got the ball caught up in his feet and couldn’t get the shot away. Nico then lashed the ball past Greif from a tight angle but the goal didn’t count because he was offside when Yuri Berchiche played him through.
It was Nico who assisted the equalizer at the start of the second half robbing Rodriguez and cutting through the Mallorca defence with a pass that found Sancet who buried the chance.
The goal came either side of Mallorca chances with Larin forcing a save from Agirrezabala and Muriqi’s cross hitting the post. But it felt as though Athletic were on top now despite those two close calls.
Oihan Sancet was the first to put Atheltic on the scoresheet when he handed his side the leveller in normal time
The Basque club scythed through Mallorca to nab their equaliser in the second-half
Having secured a 1-1 scoreline in Seville, the final was forced to extra-time on Saturday night
Try as they might they could not break Mallorca down again after the wily Javier Aguirre refreshed his midfield with Manuel Morlanes and Antonio Sanchez coming on.
Athletic might have won it added time but Vivian’s potshot, seen late by Greif, was batted away in unorthodox fashion via the keeper’s forearm.
Athletic’s club captain Iker Munian came on for extra time replacing Iñaki Williams, and he had their best chances.
The tireless Muriqi clashed heads with Unai Gomez, the former had to be bandaged, the later stitched, before the battle could recommence. The game was limping now towards penalties. It was the substitutes who looked to have most left in the tank and a mazy run from Berenguer ended with a shot on goal.
Nico Williams had a goal ruled out but later provided the assist for Sancet's, and was his side's strongest force
Mallorca played for penalties through much of extra-time as the island team clung on to hope
Dani Rodriguez had opened the scoring in the 21st minute and his side led for a large chunk
In attendance at Estadio de La Cartuja alongside over 20,000 fans was King Felipe VI (centre)
Some of the starters were still going strong. Oscar de Marcos got in behind Mallorca’s defence and crossed but Nico’s close range shot was deflected for a corner by Pablo Mafeo.
Then Muriqi headed down from close range only for Agirrezabala to save on his line. Muriqi had been Mallorca’s best player. Nico was Athletic’s and he forced a late corner but there was no penetrating Greif’s goal. At least until Athletic proved so brutally effective in the shoot-out.
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