Spanish Copa Del Rey Result
Racing 1-1 Getafe (2-4 on aggregate)
Getafe have claimed a place in their second successive Copa Del Rey final after holding Racing to a 1-1 draw in the semi final second leg at El Sardinero this evening. Getafe round off a highly successful couple of weeks for the club: after beating Racing 3-1 in the first leg a fortnight ago they have gone on to win both of their intervening La Liga fixtures and have also progressed to the quarter finals of the UEFA cup at the expense of Benfica.
An early goal from Pedro Munitis gave Racing hope that they could overcome the three goal deficit carried over from the first leg, but it was not to be and in spite of creating numerous chances, the visiting Getafe defence held firm. With just a quarter of an hour remaining, Oscar Serrano was sent off for the home side and five minutes later Casquero levelled the match to put the tie well beyond Racing’s grasp.
Racing began the match with intent, as Marcelino had promised, and put the visiting side under real pressure from the moment the whistle blew. When Jorge López drove the ball across the face of goal for Munitis to prod the ball home of the opening goal, that should have been the first of many for the home side had they been able to keep up their momentum.
However, Getafe responded in kind and the remaider of the first half was an open affair, with either side capable of scoring at any moment,
The second half saw both sides adopt a far more cautious approach and as the game wore on it seemed as if Racing grew increasingly more resigned to accepting that this was not going to be their night: Getafe were well organised and compact, refusing to offer Racing the slightest opportunity.
Perhaps it was frustration that led Serrano to pick up his second booking in as many minutes and the ignominy of an early bath. If Getafe didn’t already have one foot in the final at that point, then they did five minutes later, when Casquero smashed the ball home from close range to make it 1-1 and 4 -2 on aggregate. The match finished in controversy as the Racing players claimed that Getafe should have put the ball out of play prior to the second goal as Garay lay on the floor requiring treatment.
Getafe will have to wait until tomorrow night to find out if it is either Barcelona or Valencia who they will meet in the final: the two sides meet at the Mestalla on Thursday evening with the tie finely balanced after the first leg finished 1-1 a fortnight ago.
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