Mallorca sends Real crashing out of King's Cup
MADRID: Primera Liga leader Real Madrid lost 1-0 at home to Real Mallorca in the King's Cup last-16 on Wednesday and went out of the tournament 3-1 on aggregate.
Argentine midfielder Ariel Ibagaza scored the only goal seven minutes from time at the Bernabeu, controling a long free kick in the area and lobbing Jerzy Dudek to seal his side's passage. Mallorca won the first leg 2-1 last week.
Real dominated the match but missed a host of chances after starting with a second-string side.
The introduction of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robinho in the second half failed to improve Real's luck and an inspired Miguel Angel Moya in the visitors' goal kept it at bay.
"I don't think you can play any better than we did at times, especially in the first half, but you cannot afford to miss your chances," said Real coach Bernd Schuster.
Mallorca will meet last season's finalist and Schuster's former club Getafe in the quarterfinals. Getafe beat the league's bottom club Levante 4-0 on aggregate.
Villarreal needed an extra-time goal from Italian striker Giuseppe Rossi to get past Recreativo Huelva with a 2-0 home win giving it a 2-1 aggregate victory.
Its reward is a meeting with Barcelona after Frank Rijkaard's side knocked out holder Sevilla on Tuesday. Barca drew 0-0 at the Nou Camp to go through on the away goals rule, having drawn 1-1 in Seville last week.
Argentine Sergio Aguero scored a great individual goal to put Atletico Madrid into the quarterfinals as it drew 1-1 at Valladolid to also progress on away goals.
It will face Valencia which, despite a seven-game winless streak in the league, overcame Real Betis 4-2 on aggregate with a comfortable 2-1 home win.
Agencies
(China Daily 01/18/2008 page24)
