Betis took a step towards the final of the Copa del Rey after winning 2-1 at Rayo Vallecano this Wednesday in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals.
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Rayo went ahead with a header from Álvaro García (5), but Borja Iglesias balanced with a shot from the edge of the box (26) and William Carvalho made it 2-1 (68) that leaves the tie facing Betis for the second leg in Seville .
Falcao, from the bench
The locals, who are looking for the first cup final in their history, surprised their rival from the start with an early headed goal by Alvaro García, taking advantage of a center from the right by Iván Balliu (5).
Little by little, in the absence of Sergio Canales affected by Covid, the Betician Nabil Fekir began to take control of the game and Betis began to reach more of the opposite area.
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Betis warned with an entry by their striker Juanmi into the area, hitting the ball over goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski’s exit, although the ball went wide (25). Just a minute later, Borja Iglesias cut from the edge of the area to unleash a shot close to the post to make it 1-1 (26).
After the break, the pressure from Rayo bothered Betis, forced to resort to long passes and direct play to advance the ball. Falcao García entered the field, but was able to put Rayo ahead.
And when the locals were at their best, the second Betis goal came through William Carvalho, who fired a shot at central defender Alejandro Catena to stand alone against Dimitrievski and make it 2-1 (68).
On Thursday, Athletic Bilbao and Valencia will seek to take advantage in the dispute for another ticket to the cup final.
AFP
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