Iñaki Williams, , sealed the tie against Valencia and put Athletic, dominating the second half, into the semifinals of their favorite competition. Corberán’s team stood up to a decimated rival, but began to deflate in the second half. Ernesto Valverde brought out the Williams, the lion’s fangs, in the final stretch and the greatest of the saga put in a providential foot to take Athletic to the semifinals.
1
Stole Dimitrievski, Copete (César Tárrega, min. 58), Eray Cömert, Jesús Vázquez, Dimitri Foulquier, Luis Rioja, Pepelu, Filip Ugrinic (Guido Rodríguez, min. 88), Arnaut Danjuma (Diego López, min. 76), Lucas Beltrán (Largie Ramazani, min. 76) y Umar Sadiq (Hugo Duro, min. 58)
2
Álex Padilla, Íñigo Lekue, Iker Monreal, Aymeric Laporte (Íñigo Ruíz de Galarreta, min. 58), Andoni Gorosabel, Selton Sánchez (Nico Williams, min. 69), Mikel Vesga (Yuri Berchiche, min. 58), Nico Serrano, Mikel Jauregizar, Robert Navarro (Iñaki Williams, min. 69) and Urko Izeta (Gorka Cruzeta, min. 58)
Goals
0-1 min. 25: Sadiq. 1-1 min. 34: Sadiq. 1-2 min. 95: Williams
Referee Victor García Verdura
yellow cards
Copete (min. 87), Valverde (min. 87), Diego López (min. 96)
Valencia came out with its foundations well-sunken due to casualties. Two teams with their ears down in the League that wanted to have a blast in the Cup. The defensive solidity allowed Carlos Corberán’s team to get out quickly through the wings of Danjuma and, especially, Luis Rioja. Although his precision failed again in the final meters, when you have to be most lucid and ideas run rampant in your head. A weak point of this Valencia, which does not know how to finish off its minutes of dominance.
Ernesto Valverde’s team broke clear midway through the first half, although they only managed to cause concern with a dry and distant shot from Nico Navarro that Dimitrievski got rid of as best he could. Athletic did not need to step into the area to take the lead: Sadiq put the red and white team ahead with a header directly into their goal. A clumsiness that left his side in trouble. Another knife blow for Valencia, one more, from a lateral foul.
Sadiq, always smiling, the only inhabitant of his world, did not collapse. Although it wasn’t his night. A few minutes later he received a free ball into the small area and he headed so poorly that it didn’t even find the goal.
Valencia did not wrinkle. Carlos Corberán increased the pressure and thus began to screw the lions. Sadiq was experiencing a fateful night. One of those that leave a mark. Until Padilla did not block a ball well and the Nigerian striker, wide awake, caught him on the fly to equalize the pulse and correct his mistake. Sadiq celebrated the goal and apologized to the crowd at the same time. An inimitable guy.
Iker Monreal should not give credit. The Athletic debutant had to contend with one of the most atypical forwards in Spanish football. He played alongside Aymeric Laporte. Valverde, with many casualties, opted for an experimental eleven filled with new features.
Robert Navarro ran throughout the midfield to impose his dominance and prevent the ball from reaching Ugrinic’s boots, the flag stick of this improved Valencia. But Navarro rebelled and looked for Nico Serrano, the most incisive. The fans had forgotten what it was like to fight for big goals. The Cup has always smiled on them, although much more so on Athletic, who came out with more brazenness in the second half. Their attacks used to fade when they reached Cömert and Copete, two players who have played in the center of the defense.
The two coaches changed their strikers at game time. Hugo Duro and Guruzeta jumped onto the grass to end the equality. Although the danger almost always came from Nico Serrano’s flank. Valencia was beginning to suffer and only found its way into the area if it went through the intuitive Lucas Beltrán. The Cup needed the Williams brothers.
His entry encouraged Athletic, who increasingly unleashed more blows against a Valencia without much gunpowder on the bench. In one of them the ball hit Tárrega in the hand and the referee, after reviewing the play, awarded a penalty. Dimitrievski guessed Jauregizar’s intention and prevented the goal. . 100% cupbearer. Athletic dominated and Valencia, weaker with each change, seemed not to be bothered by an extension. Until Iñaki appeared, already in extra time, and, after a pass from his brother Nico, finished off Valencia.
