GUADALAJARA, Jal., February 2, 2021.- They suffered much more than expected, but Sevilla became the first semifinalist of the Copa del Rey this Tuesday, after eliminating Almería 1-0.
At the Estadio Mediterráneo, the lonely score that defined the match reached the second half.
Despite being a visitor, Sevilla started as a wide favorite against the only survivor of the Second Division who reached this stage of the tournament.
But it took a lot more work than anticipated. In the first half, he ran into a rival who closed spaces for him and suffered to generate approaches.
At minute 5, Aleix Vidal, from the edge of the large area, cut to the center and released a low left foot. Goalkeeper Fernando Martínez leaned back to his left to keep the ball. Later, the ball entered the center and bounced into the area. The Almería goalkeeper came out and the Croatian Ivan Rakitić tried to lift the round, but Martínez jumped and managed to cover, at ’33.
Seville even had a great scare in the first half. At ’43, after a long ball, the visiting goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, left the area, but he made a mistake, hit badly and the ball was left to Largie Ramazani. With his bow unprotected, the Belgian fired from the side.
The set of Second Division of Spain competed at all times and went to rest with the 0-0 that gave them hope.
In the second half, the visiting team pressed forward, looking for a pass to the Copa del Rey Semifinals. At ’53, the corner kick traveled from the right flank and Jules Koundé landed a solid header that slammed off the crossbar.
In the counterattack, Dutchman Luuk de Jong sent the ball down the side. Almería was saved.
But little later, Sevilla did not forgive. Suso charged low and back the corner kick on the right side. They returned him to send a left-handed cross to great effect. Lucas Ocampos got up, won from above and got a great cross header. The ball hit the post and finally opened the scoring at minute 66.
With the local team forced to go to the front in search of a tie, the visit found more spaces, but did not score the second goal that sentenced the match thanks to the good interventions of goalkeeper Fernando Martínez.
The minimum difference was maintained until the final whistle and Sevilla became the first semifinalist of the Copa del Rey, while Almería saw their dream die in the Quarter-Finals.
